Legislature honors Beltrán for Baseball Hall of Fame induction
By THE STAR STAFF
The Puerto Rico Senate and the House of Representatives honored former Major League Baseball player Carlos Iván Beltrán Valdés earlier this week for his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York in July.
The tribute took place during a ceremony Monday in the Constitution Rotunda at the Capitol.
“I want to thank the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House for this recognition, which means even more because it comes from our own people,” Beltrán stated during the event. “Whatever I achieved in Major League Baseball, I owe to my parents, who always encouraged me to give my best … that is something I emphasize at every opportunity. You must always give your absolute best.”
The former outfielder and designated hitter, a native of Manatí, was officially inducted on July 26 as a member of the Class of 2026 -- alongside Andruw Jones and Jeff Kent -- after receiving 358 votes, representing 84.2% of the total ballots cast by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.
With his election, Beltrán became the sixth Puerto Rican player to enter the Hall of Fame, joining Roberto Clemente, Orlando Cepeda, Roberto Alomar, Iván Rodríguez and Edgar Martínez.
During the ceremony, Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz and Speaker of the House Carlos Méndez Núñez presented the former player with a framed copy of Senate Concurrent Resolution 21, through which the Legislative Assembly recognizes his athletic career and his contributions to the development of baseball in Puerto Rico.
“In Carlos Beltrán, Puerto Rico has an example of discipline, capability, and commitment to his roots,” Rivera Schatz said. “His induction into the Hall of Fame represents an extraordinary feat -- one achieved not merely through talent, but through years of preparation and the determination to strive for excellence every single day.”
Méndez highlighted the former player’s efforts on behalf of Puerto Rican youth through initiatives focused on athletic and academic development.
“His talent on the field led him to become one of the greatest baseball players in the history of the sport in the United States,” the House speaker remarked. “That alone would warrant recognition, but Carlos has done much more -- contributing directly to the development of the sport he loves so dearly and making a positive impact on thousands of young Puerto Ricans.”
As part of the ceremony, Rivera Schatz presented Beltrán with a sketch by artist Williams Carmona, while Méndez gifted the nine-time All-Star a painting by Arte Carde that captures key moments from his career.
The event also featured testimonials from young people associated with the Carlos Beltrán Baseball Academy -- an institution dedicated to academic and athletic training -- as well as messages from family members and figures from the world of baseball.
Among those in attendance were Manatí Mayor José Sánchez González, Sen. Rafael Santos Ortiz and Rep. Luis Jiménez Torres, all of whom took part in the legislative recognition.
