HOF players and managers, broken down by team

Cap choices accompany legends' Cooperstown plaques for eternity

February 2nd, 2024

When Induction Day rolls around in Cooperstown, the biggest thrill for a fanbase (outside of celebrating the actual player, of course) might be seeing its team's logo ensconced on the bronze plaque. The designation typically means that the player defined his career in that city -- or perhaps even led that club to World Series titles -- and signifies that a legend will be remembered hand-in-hand with that team in perpetuity.

These decisions used to be solely up to the player, but the Hall now works in conjunction with inductees to determine the club with which he made his greatest impact on the game. Players whose careers spread across multiple clubs can enter without a cap logo, as is the case with 2024 inductee Jim Leyland.

Below are the Hall of Fame's official cap logo designations for the hundreds of players and managers in the Plaque Gallery, along with a guess at who could be the next representative for each club. This list excludes Hall of Famers who wouldn't don a Major League team logo, including executives, umpires and Negro League legends like Cool Papa Bell or Josh Gibson. At the bottom of the list are dozens of Hall of Famers who do not have a team designation for a variety of reasons, including a cap in profile that doesn't feature a logo, a blank cap or a lack of a cap altogether (as could often be the case with old-time players).

With that in mind, here's who dons your favorite team's cap on his Hall of Fame plaque.

Angels
Vladimir Guerrero (2018)

Guerrero had a tough choice to make between the Halos and the Expos, but chose the team with whom he won his lone MVP Award.

Next up? Another No. 27, , is the obvious choice.

Astros
Jeff Bagwell (2017)
Craig Biggio (2015)

Nolan Ryan could have very well been the first Astro, but he opted for the Rangers instead. Cooperstown had a decidedly orange feel when Astros lifers Biggio and then Bagwell ushered Houston into the Plaque Gallery for the first time.

Next up? Houston has a few candidates. , who already has three batting titles, two World Series championships and an American League MVP Award under his belt, is atop that list. Closer Billy Wagner has a good chance after falling just five votes shy of induction in 2024, his ninth year on the ballot.

Athletics
Dennis Eckersley (2004)
Rollie Fingers (1992)
Rickey Henderson (2009)
Al Simmons (1953)
Dick Williams (2008)

This is a franchise that feels like it should have more representatives, considering it boasts two early dynasties in Philadelphia and one of just two modern-era three-peat franchises in the 1972-74 A's. Catfish Hunter was the ace of those teams, but his later success with the Yankees kept him from choosing a club. The same logic applied to Tony La Russa, who won more titles later with the Cardinals. Many of the early Philly stars either have blank caps or no caps at all on their plaques.

Next up? Stars of the "Moneyball" A's such as Tim Hudson, Miguel Tejada and Barry Zito have all fallen off the BBWAA ballot. That means the baton could be passed to a former Oakland player such as .

Blue Jays
Roberto Alomar (2011)

Alomar came to Toronto alongside Joe Carter in a famous trade involving Tony Fernandez and Fred McGriff, and helped make the Blue Jays into a two-time World Series champion powerhouse.

Next up? is a fun name to throw out there.

Braves
Hank Aaron (1982)
Bobby Cox (2014)
Tom Glavine (2014)
Billy Hamilton (1961)
Chipper Jones (2018)
Rabbit Maranville (1954)
Eddie Mathews (1978)
Tommy McCarthy (1946)
Phil Niekro (1997)
John Smoltz (2015)
Warren Spahn (1973)

Atlanta fans have enjoyed one heck of a run recently as the stars of the dynastic 1990s Braves teams have made their way to Cooperstown. Greg Maddux is the notable exception, choosing to go sans logo after pitching half of his career with the Cubs.

Next up? Andruw Jones has seen his voting percentages skyrocket over the past few years, up to 61.1% in 2024, his seventh year on the ballot.

Brewers
Paul Molitor (2004)
Robin Yount (1999)

Yount was a no-brainer as a lifelong Brewer beginning with his debut at age 18. His longtime teammate, Molitor, could have very well worn a Blue Jays cap after finally winning a World Series with Toronto in 1993, but he wound up representing the club with which he recorded roughly two-thirds of 3,319 hits.

Next up? If Gary Sheffield somehow finds his way into Cooperstown (it would need to be through the Eras Committee), there's a chance he could make a sentimental choice with his original club in Milwaukee. Ryan Braun will face some of the same roadblocks as Sheffield when he goes in front of the BBWAA, but has 352 homers, a .286 average and his 2011 NL MVP in tow.

Cardinals
Lou Brock (1985)
Dizzy Dean (1953)
Bob Gibson (1981)
Whitey Herzog (2010)
Stan Musial (1969)
Scott Rolen (2023)
Red Schoendienst (1989)
Ted Simmons (2020)
Enos Slaughter (1985)
Ozzie Smith (2002)
Billy Southworth (2008)
Bruce Sutter (2006)

Tony La Russa's three NL pennants and two World Series titles leading the Cardinals made him a likely candidate, but he went in without a logo due to his early success in Chicago and Oakland. The Cardinals still boast plenty of iconic inductees, of course, from Stan "The Man" to "Gibby" to "The Wizard of Oz."

Next up? There's no question that Albert Pujols, who retired following the 2022 season, will go in with a St. Louis cap.

Cubs
Ernie Banks (1977)
Frank Chance (1946)
Kiki Cuyler (1968)
Gabby Hartnett (1955)
Billy Herman (1975)
Ferguson Jenkins (1991)
Ryne Sandberg (2005)
Ron Santo (2012)
Lee Smith (2019)
Billy Williams (1987)
Hack Wilson (1979)

Plenty of Cubs caps are in the Plaque Gallery despite the franchise's 108-year title drought between 1908 and 2016, but a few old-timer exceptions like Three-Finger Brown, Johnny Evers, and Joe Tinker are not on the list simply on account of their logo-less heydays.

Next up? Perhaps the Eras Committee will be more forgiving to Sammy Sosa as opinions continue to evolve on baseball's "Steroid Era." If Sosa is kept out, the baton would probably be passed to Jon Lester (who would have a tough decision to make) or Anthony Rizzo.

D-backs
Randy Johnson (2015)

The D-backs franchise enjoyed pretty quick success when it won a World Series title in its fourth year of existence, and Johnson's induction gave them a Hall of Famer in short order, too. While the Big Unit had his share of success in Seattle, his four consecutive Cy Young Awards in the desert made his cap logo a pretty easy choice.

Next up? One can't tell the D-backs' history to this point without Curt Schilling, who became an October legend with the Red Sox, too. His Cooperstown case has been contentious, and he ran out of eligibility with the BBWAA voters in January 2022, then got only seven of the needed 12 votes from the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee that December.

Dodgers
Walter Alston (1983)
Roy Campanella (1969)
Don Drysdale (1984)
Leo Durocher (1994)
Burleigh Grimes (1964)
Gil Hodges (2022)
Wee Willie Keeler (1939)
Sandy Koufax (1972)
Tommy Lasorda (1997)
Pee Wee Reese (1984)
Jackie Robinson (1962)
Duke Snider (1980)
Don Sutton (1998)
Dazzy Vance (1955)
Zack Wheat (1959)

It's strange to note how many years passed between Sutton and Hodges going in with a Dodgers cap. Mike Piazza could have easily gone in as a Dodger, but his star burned brighter in Queens.

Next up? There are some very remote possibilities with fringe candidates such as Manny Ramirez and Gary Sheffield, but Dodger fans might as well start planning five years from whenever hangs up his spikes. The southpaw would probably be a first-ballot Hall of Famer if he retired tomorrow.

Expos
Gary Carter (2003)
Andre Dawson (2010)
Tim Raines (2017)

Vladimir Guerrero was probably the last viable Expos candidate, but he chose to enter the Hall representing the Angels. But never say never: If a Major League team winds up back in Montreal, perhaps another Expos Hall of Famer is in the offing decades from now.

Giants
Orlando Cepeda (1999)
Carl Hubbell (1947)
Monte Irvin (1973)
Travis Jackson (1982)
George "High Pockets" Kelly (1973)
Freddie Lindstrom (1976)
Juan Marichal (1983)
Willie Mays (1979)
Willie McCovey (1986)
Christy Mathewson (1936)
John McGraw (1937)
Gaylord Perry (1991)
Bill Terry (1954)
Hoyt Wilhelm (1985)
Ross Youngs (1972)

The Giants have played more modern-era baseball in San Francisco than they did in upper Manhattan, and both eras of the franchise are amply represented. The biggest omission here is probably Mel Ott, who is capless on his Hall plaque.

Next up? There's a slugger named Barry Bonds who dominates a fair amount of the conversation each voting season. But Bonds ran out of BBWAA eligibility in 2022 -- the same year that two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum went one-and-done on the ballot -- and he didn't even get four votes from the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee. Jeff Kent fell off the ballot in '23, so his candidacy also moves to the Era Committee.

Indians/Guardians
Earl Averill (1975)
Lou Boudreau (1970)
Stan Coveleski (1969)
Larry Doby (1998)
Bob Feller (1962)
Addie Joss (1978)
Nap Lajoie (1937)
Bob Lemon (1976)
Al Lopez (1977)
Joe Sewell (1977)
Tris Speaker (1937)
Jim Thome (2018)
Early Wynn (1972)

Thome hit 275 of his homers for teams not based in Cleveland, but that still left 337 for his original franchise, and his cap choice reflects that. Lajoie's popularity caused the Cleveland franchise to be known as the Naps for a brief period in time.

Next up? Manny Ramirez could go with his original club, but his Hall case looks like a longshot. The Guardians' best hope may be a current star such as José Ramírez or .

Mariners
Ken Griffey Jr. (2016)
Edgar Martinez (2019)

The only way Griffey wasn't going to don a Mariners logo was if his plaque had him wearing a backwards cap. Randy Johnson won his first Cy Young Award with Seattle, but unquestionably reached his peak with the D-backs. Martinez's candidacy made Seattle fans hold their breath for a full decade, but the sweet-swinging DH finally got in on his last year of BBWAA eligibility.

Next up? Ichiro Suzuki will be a slam-dunk first-ballot choice.

Marlins
Miami fans' best hopes for now rest with Gary Sheffield, who hit 122 homers in teal and helped the Marlins capture their first World Series title in 1997. nearly hit 60 homers in his MVP season in a Miami uniform, but if he wins a ring, it will be with the Yankees (or another club down the line).

Mets
Mike Piazza (2016)
Tom Seaver (1992)

Seaver is the most obvious Met in the Hall, while there was some consideration of Piazza wearing a Dodgers cap on his plaque. Willie Mays, Nolan Ryan and Gary Carter are among the notable Mets who are in the Hall with a different cap.

Next up? David Wright was on a Hall track until injuries derailed his candidacy. Maybe Carlos Beltrán dons a Mets cap, but his BBWAA candidacy is now complicated by the Astros sign-stealing investigation that cost him his managerial job in Queens before he ever won or lost a game. He received 57.1% of the vote in 2024, his second year on the ballot. or would seemingly have the best chance among the franchise's more recent stars.

Nationals
The Nationals, who relocated from Montreal to D.C. in 2005, are still looking for their first Hall of Famer.

Next up? Injuries kept Ryan Zimmerman from putting up Hall of Fame numbers, and is no longer in a Nationals uniform. Neither is Max Scherzer, but he is a possibility after winning a pair of Cy Young Awards and a World Series title in D.C.

Orioles
Eddie Murray (2003)
Jim Palmer (1990)
Cal Ripken Jr. (2007)
Brooks Robinson (1983)
Frank Robinson (1982)
Earl Weaver (1996)

Ripken's popularity, combined with Gwynn's, made his Induction the biggest in Cooperstown history in 2007. Frank Robinson's early success with the Reds made him the only moderately tough decision on this list, but he undoubtedly blossomed as a star in Baltimore. Mike Mussina pitched two more seasons and won 24 more games with the Orioles than he did with the Yankees but opted to enter the Hall with no logo on his cap.

Next up? Adam Jones might be next, but his candidacy could be described as a longshot at best. is another candidate.

Padres
Tony Gwynn (2007)
Trevor Hoffman (2018)
Dave Winfield (2001)

Gwynn and Hoffman are San Diego icons, while Winfield surprised many when he chose his original club, the Padres, over the Yankees squad with whom he enjoyed a more successful -- but also contentious -- tenure.

Next up? Adrián González fell off the ballot in 2024, and Jake Peavy fell off of it in 2022. The Padres' best hope among current players may be , but a PED suspension clouds his candidacy.

Phillies
Richie Ashburn (1995)
Jim Bunning (1996)
Steve Carlton (1994)
Chuck Klein (1980)
Robin Roberts (1976)
Mike Schmidt (1995)

Iconic Phillies are listed above, with a notable exception in Grover Cleveland Alexander, whose plaque features a blank cap. Bunning threw a no-hitter in both leagues and won far more games with the Tigers, but the righty went in as a Phillie.

Next up? Curt Schilling, now eligible for the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee ballot, won far more games in Philly than with any other club. Chase Utley had a decent showing in his first ballot cycle, receiving 28.8% of the vote in 2024. Jimmy Rollins could fall short after being listed on 14.8% of ballots in '24, his third year on the ballot.

Pirates
Max Carey (1961)
Fred Clarke (1945)
Roberto Clemente (1973)
Ralph Kiner (1975)
Bill Mazeroski (2001)
Willie Stargell (1988)
Pie Traynor (1948)
Arky Vaughan (1985)
Lloyd Waner (1967)
Paul Waner (1952)

You might notice that one of baseball's best all-time shortstops, Honus Wagner, is not listed above. Wagner played 18 of his 21 seasons in Pittsburgh, but his cap (depicted in profile on his plaque) is blank nonetheless.

Next up? Pittsburgh fans might have to wait until becomes Hall-eligible -- though he still has to improve his Cooperstown case.

Rangers
Adrián Beltré (2024)
Ivan Rodriguez (2017)
Nolan Ryan (1999)

Beltré's career wasn't on a Cooperstown track when he joined the Rangers in 2011, his age-32 season. But his next eight years -- which featured a .305 average, an .866 OPS, three All-Star selections and three Gold Gloves -- made him an easy first-ballot choice. Beltré also picked up his 3,000th career hit with Texas. Ryan's choice was an unexpected one, considering that he threw four no-hitters with the Angels and pitched many of his best seasons in Houston. But the righty did rack up his 300th win and 5,000th strikeout in a Rangers uniform.

Next up? Nelson Cruz, who retired in 2023 after hitting 464 home runs, spent eight of his 19 MLB seasons with Texas. However, his biggest years came with other clubs, and he does have a PED suspension on his record.

Rays
is a potential candidate, though he needs to pad his case. might wind up being the Rays' best shot, but he captured his first World Series title in a different uniform.

Red Sox
Wade Boggs (2005)
Joe Cronin (1956)
Bobby Doerr (1986)
Rick Ferrell (1984)
Carlton Fisk (2000)
Jimmie Foxx (1951)
Lefty Grove (1947)
Pedro Martinez (2015)
David Ortiz (2022)
Jim Rice (2009)
Ted Williams (1966)
Carl Yastrzemski (1989)

There's a mix of slam-dunk choices like Williams and Yastrzemski, along with a few legends like Cronin, Foxx and Grove who could have just easily worn a different club's cap.

Next up? Roger Clemens' case, like that of Barry Bonds, will be decided by the Era Committee. It's not a stretch to envision Curt Schilling in a Red Sox cap if he makes it in.

Reds
Sparky Anderson (2000)
Johnny Bench (1989)
Barry Larkin (2012)
Ernie Lombardi (1986)
Bill McKechnie (1962)
Joe Morgan (1990)
Tony Perez (2000)
Eppa Rixey (1963)
Edd Roush (1962)

Tom Seaver finally got his no-hitter in a Reds uniform, but he simply meant too much to the Mets not to go in with a New York cap. Morgan actually played nearly as many games in Houston as Cincinnati, but his peak years with the Big Red Machine rank alongside the best by any middle infielder in history.

Next up? Pete Rose isn't going into the Hall anytime soon, and so Cincinnati's next hope is probably . His merits have already sparked debate while he's still on the field, but the electorate should be much more sabermetrically inclined once Votto reaches the ballot.

Rockies
Todd Helton (2024)
Larry Walker (2020)

Helton spent his entire 17-year career in Colorado, batting .316 and picking up 2,519 hits along the way. The five-time All-Star gained 50 percentage points of voting support from 2020-24, leading to him being voted in with 79.7% of the vote in his sixth year on the ballot. Walker finally broke through in his 10th and final season on the ballot, giving the Rockies their first Hall of Famer. He spent his first six seasons in Montreal and finished his career with St. Louis, but the bulk of his production came during the decade he spent in Colorado. He clubbed 258 of his 383 career homers with the Rockies, while also winning the 1997 NL MVP Award after hitting a league-leading 49 homers.

Next up? Nolan Arenado is still going strong with the Cardinals, but his eight fantastic years in Colorado could make him the third Rockie in the Hall.

Royals
George Brett (1999)

Brett's name is pretty much synonymous with the Royals franchise, and there was never a doubt about either his election or his cap choice.

Next up? Would Carlos Beltrán go in with his original club, even if he found more acclaim and October success with other teams down the line? might have the best shot, particularly if he stays a Royal for the rest of his career.

Senators
Goose Goslin (1968)
Bucky Harris (1975)
Walter Johnson (1936)
Sam Rice (1963)

The Senators may have been "first in war and last in the American League," but these four legends represent a pretty decent crop for a franchise that lost as much as Washington did. All four were major contributors to the Senators' only World Series title in 1924, with Harris leading the club as a 27-year-old player-manager.

Cleveland Spiders (defunct)

Cy Young (1937)

How much did Young mean to the Spiders franchise? After he left following the 1898 season, Cleveland went 20-134 (the worst record in NL history) and folded at year's end.

Tigers
Ty Cobb (1936)
Mickey Cochrane (1947)
Sam Crawford (1957)
Hank Greenberg (1956)
Harry Heilmann (1952)
Hughie Jennings (1945)
Al Kaline (1980)
George Kell (1983)
Heinie Manush (1964)
Jack Morris (2018)
Hal Newhouser (1992)
Alan Trammell (2018)

All the Tigers one would expect are listed above, except perhaps second baseman Charlie Gehringer, whose cap is depicted in profile on his plaque.

Next up? Miguel Cabrera and should go in as Tigers. Lou Whitaker remains a sentimental favorite in the Motor City, but hasn't found luck with the Era Committee to this point.

Twins
Bert Blyleven (2011)
Rod Carew (1991)
Jim Kaat (2022)
Harmon Killebrew (1984)
Joe Mauer (2024)
Tony Oliva (2022)
Kirby Puckett (2001)

Killebrew and Puckett were no-brainers, and Carew logged five more seasons (and 1,117 more hits) with the Twins than he did with the Angels. Blyleven pitched for five MLB clubs, but he began his career with the Twins and came back to help the franchise win its first World Series title in Minneapolis. Mauer, a Minnesota native and the only catcher to win three batting titles in AL/NL history, was also a first-ballot selection.

Next up? Barring a big surge from Byron Buxton over the second half of his career, it might be a long while before another player sports a Twins logo on their Hall of Fame plaque. Torii Hunter is clinging to the BBWAA ballot; he received 7.3% of the vote in 2024, his fourth voting cycle.

White Sox
Luis Aparicio (1984)
Luke Appling (1964)
Harold Baines (2019)
Red Faber (1964)
Nellie Fox (1997)
Ted Lyons (1955)
Minnie Miñoso (2022)
Frank Thomas (2014)

Eddie Collins and all-time ERA leader Ed Walsh were both White Sox legends, but each player dons a blank cap from a time before logos were prevalent. Hall of Fame manager Al Lopez helped transform the "Go Go Sox" into an AL powerhouse, but went into the Plaque Gallery with an Indians cap.

Next up? Mark Buehrle hasn't found much support from the BBWAA. In 2024, his fourth year on the ballot, he received 8.3% of the vote. José Abreu and current star Tim Anderson may have a case down the road.

Yankees
Earle Combs (1970)
Bill Dickey (1954)
Joe DiMaggio (1955)
Whitey Ford (1974)
Lou Gehrig (1939)
Lefty Gomez (1972)
Joe Gordon (2009)
Goose Gossage (2008)
Waite Hoyt (1969)
Miller Huggins (1964)
Reggie Jackson (1993)
Derek Jeter (2020)
Tony Lazzeri (1991)
Mickey Mantle (1974)
Joe McCarthy (1957)
Mariano Rivera (2019)
Phil Rizzuto (1994)
Red Ruffing (1967)
Babe Ruth (1936)
Casey Stengel (1966)
Joe Torre (2014)

Jeter is the latest Yankee legend to go into the Hall after spending his entire 20-year career in the Bronx. However, look closely at the list above and you'll recognize one glaring omission. Yogi Berra played 18 of his 19 seasons in the Bronx and was one of the most famous ballplayers on the planet while he wore pinstripes, but the profile view on his plaque leaves no room for the famous "NY" logo.

Next up? The Yankees might have to wait a while before sending their next member to Cooperstown. Alex Rodriguez was on 34.8% of the ballots in 2024, his third voting cycle.

Hall of Fame players/managers with no cap logo
Grover Cleveland Alexander (1938)
Cap Anson (1939)
Frank "Home Run" Baker (1955)
Dave Bancroft (1971)
Jake Beckley (1971)
Chief Bender (1953)
Yogi Berra (1972)
Jim Bottomley (1974)
Roger Bresnahan (1945)
Dan Brouthers (1945)
Mordecai Brown (1949)
Jesse Burkett (1946)
Jack Chesbro (1946)
John Clarkson (1963)
Eddie Collins (1939)
Jimmy Collins (1945)
Roger Connor (1976)
Ed Delahanty (1945)
Hugh Duffy (1945)
Johnny Evers (1946)
Buck Ewing (1939)
Elmer Flick (1963)
Bud Fowler (2022)
Frankie Frisch (1947)
Pud Galvin (1965)
Charlie Gehringer (1949)
Chick Hafey (1971)
Jesse Haines (1970)
Roy Halladay (2019)
Harry Hooper (1971)
Rogers Hornsby (1942)
Catfish Hunter (1987)
Tim Keefe (1964)
Joe Kelley (1971)
King Kelly (1945)
Tony La Russa (2014)
Jim Leyland (2024)
Greg Maddux (2014)
Rube Marquard (1971)
Joe McGinnity (1946)
Fred McGriff (2023)
Bid McPhee (2000)
Joe Medwick (1968)
Johnny Mize (1981)
Mike Mussina (2019)
Kid Nichols (1949)
Buck O'Neil (2022)
Jim O'Rourke (1945)
Mel Ott (1951)
Herb Pennock (1948)
Eddie Plank (1946)
"Old Hoss" Radbourn (1939)
Wilbert Robinson (1945)
Amos Rusie (1977)
Ray Schalk (1955)
Frank Selee (1999)
George Sisler (1939)
Sam Thompson (1974)
Joe Tinker (1946)
Rube Waddell (1946)
Honus Wagner (1936)
Bobby Wallace (1953)
Ed Walsh (1946)
John Montgomery Ward (1964)
Mickey Welch (1973)
Deacon White (2013)
Vic Willis (1995)