Every time someone talks about the MLB Hall of Fame, a few names get mentioned for getting inducted, like Babe Ruth, Reggie Jackson, and Jackie Robinson. But some get mentioned for not getting inducted even after having exceptional careers, and one of those names is Barry Bonds. But now that might change, because Bonds might be coming to Cooperstown.

A recent post by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum revealed the players’ ballot for the Hall of Fame class of 2026. “The Contemporary Baseball Era player ballot features eight candidates for consideration in the Hall of Fame Class of 2026.” Among the players was Barry Bonds.

Seventeen years after his final at-bat, Barry Bonds remains one of MLB’s most polarizing figures.

He was blackballed from the Hall of Fame over steroid allegations that were never proven or punished. During his decade on the Baseball Writers’ ballot, he peaked at 66 percent, nine points short of induction. His 762 home runs and seven MVP Awards still stand untouched, reminders of a career both brilliant and controversial.

Bonds has never hidden his frustration with being left out of Cooperstown despite being cleared in court.

In 2023, he questioned why MLB refused to recognize that vindication after his legal victory. His recent Instagram post listing “blackballed” athletes showed how deeply the rejection still stings. Now, both he and Roger Clemens are back on the Contemporary Baseball Era ballot, relying on 16 committee members to decide their fate.

Yet Bonds seems more at peace today, shaped by time and quiet recognition.

His 2024 induction into the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame brought visible emotion and closure. He said those hopes of Cooperstown no longer define him; only his family and legacy do. Whether the committee votes him in or not, the numbers and memories he left behind can’t be erased.

Still, maybe this time, Cooperstown will finally open its doors to MLB’s greatest contradiction, Barry Bonds. After all, while legends like Babe Ruth broke records, the home run king broke MLB’s comfort with perfection.

Meanwhile, Cooperstown is changing.

MLB adds new artifacts to Cooperstown after Dodgers’ World Series win

Baseball never forgets its trophies or its storytellers. MLB’s grand stage just wrapped another epic chapter, and once again, Cooperstown’s shelves are getting heavier. The Dodgers, those familiar curators of October glory, have handed over a few souvenirs from their latest conquest. Because in baseball, history isn’t just written, it’s boxed up, labeled “artifacts,” and sent straight to Cooperstown for safekeeping.

The Dodgers’ 5–4 win in Game 7 in Toronto added another line to their championship history.

Artifacts from that victory, including Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s Game 7 cap and Mookie Betts’ glove from the final double play, are headed to Cooperstown. Freddie Freeman’s Game 3 walk-off bat and the 18-inning base from the same game also join the collection. Each piece, from Dave Roberts’ jersey to Will Smith’s Game 7 spikes, captures moments that defined Los Angeles’ ninth World Series title.

The Hall of Fame also received pieces from other postseason milestones that shaped baseball’s October drama.

Addison Barger’s spikes from his pinch-hit grand slam, the first in World Series history, are among them. Max Scherzer’s ball from Game 3, marking his record fourth franchise World Series appearance, adds emotional and historical weight. These items will be displayed during the Hall’s Artifact Spotlight on November 3, followed by their place in the Autumn Glory exhibit.

Cooperstown keeps finding room for more legends, and MLB keeps giving it reasons to. The Dodgers’ legacy now lives beside the relics of Ruth, Robinson, and Reggie Jackson alike. Because in baseball, even the dust on a glove can whisper louder than a headline.