Will Carlos Beltrán put a Mets cap on his Cooperstown plaque?
That’s the million-dollar question right now after the former Mets star, who also spent time with the Royals, Yankees, Cardinals, Astros, Rangers and Giants, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday.
Beltrán previously told The Post last year that he would enter the Hall wearing a Mets cap, but he vowed not to do so when he appeared on MLB Network Tuesday night.
“There is no doubt that my best years in baseball were with two teams, the Kansas City Royals and the New York Mets,” Beltrán said. “That’s a decision. I would like to sit down with my family, Jessica and my kids and make a decision on that. I really enjoyed my time in New York. Now I work as a consultant for the Mets, so there’s a lot of weight in carrying the New York [Mets] cap.”
The 2026 Hall of Fame inductee did admit that he had spent his entire career thinking about the idea of playing for the Royals and how “great” it would have been.
However, that idea changed after he was traded to Houston by the Royals in 2004 and then ended up with the Mets on a seven-year contract before the 2005 season.
“New York has really invested a lot in my career,” Beltrán said.
Beltrán was elected to the Hall of Fame in his fourth year on the ballot after receiving 84.2 percent from the Baseball Writers Association of America.
He played seven seasons in Queens, where he hit .280 with 149 home runs and 559 RBIs. He was a five-time All-Star and won three Gold Gloves in center field. With Kansas City, he won the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 1999 and hit 123 home runs in 795 games.
Mets owner Steve Cohen and his wife Alex congratulated Beltrán in a statement released Tuesday evening.
“On behalf of the entire organization, we are pleased to congratulate Carlos on receiving the highest honor in baseball,” they wrote in a statement. “One of the most dynamic players to ever wear a Mets uniform, Carlos combined rare power and speed with elite defense, setting a standard of excellence that continues today. In addition to his on-field achievements, his leadership, insight and presence continue to shape our organization. It is a proud moment for Carlos, his family and Mets fans everywhere.”
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