By Jon Sargalis

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America has released their ballot for the 2026 Hall of Fame election. 2002 Mohawk Hunter Pence was on the list of 12 newcomers to the ballot this year. He is the third Amsterdam/Mohawks player to appear on the ballot and he’s the first ever Mohawks player.

The other Amsterdam players to appear on the Hall of Fame ballot were 1941 Amsterdam Rugmaker Vic Raschi and 1947 Amsterdam Rugmaker Lew Burdette.

Vic Raschi, who pitched 10 years in the Majors was a 6x World Series Champion and 4x All-Star, he appeared on the ballot 9 times and topped out at 10.2% of the vote in his final year on the ballot in 1975. Lew Burdette, who pitched 18 years in the Majors was a World Series MVP and 3x All-Star, he appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot 15 times from 1973-1987 and topped out at 24.1% of the vote in 1984.

Hunter Pence came to the Mohawks in 2002 from Texarkana Community College before transferring to UT Arlington. He played in 30 games that summer, batting .316 with 3 doubles, 3 triples, 1 homer, 13 RBI and 13 runs scored. The Mohawks went 30-12 that season, winning the Eastern Division. Pence had the walk-off single in the Division Finals to get the Mohawks into the NYCBL Championship, but they ended up falling short in the end as the Hornell Dodgers took the crown.

(2002 Mohawks team photo, Hunter Pence #8 pictured 3rd row, 2nd on the left)

From there, Pence was drafted in the second round by the Houston Astros in the 2004 MLB Draft and he came right back to the Capitol Region as his first pro assignment was with the Tri-City Valley Cats. The Astros called Pence up in 2007 where he finished third in National League Rookie of the Year balloting after hitting .322 his rookie season with 17 home runs, 30 doubles and 69 RBI.

Pence’s 14-year career was with 4 different teams as he spent 5 years with the Astros, 2 with the Phillies, 8 with the Giants and 1 with the Rangers. He was a four-time All-Star (2009, 2011, 2014, 2019). Topped .300 mark in batting average in two seasons (2007, 2011). Reached 20-home run mark seven times (2008-14). Recorded 100 RBI once (2012), 100 runs scored once (2014), 300-plus total bases twice (2011, 2013) and recorded at least 20 doubles in nine seasons (2007-14, 2016). He played in league-leading 162 games twice (2013-14) and led NL right fielders in assists five times (2008-09, 2011-12, 2014) and putouts twice (2008, 2013). He appeared in 43 games over 10 postseason series. Most notably he was a member of Giants World Series title teams in 2012 and 2014. In those 11 World Series games he hit .390 with 1 home run, 4 doubles, 6 RBI and 10 runs scored.

On Jan. 20, the results of the 82nd Baseball Writers’ Association of America Hall of Fame election will be revealed live from the Hall of Fame Plaque Gallery in Cooperstown.

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