From first-year players to returning candidates, here are top names to watch in the 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame voting process.

Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Famer who became one of baseball’s best all-around players while starring for the Chicago Cubs, has died.

Baseball Hall of Fame infielder Ryne Sandberg has died at the age of 65, the Cubs announced Monday evening. Sandberg was diagnosed with prostate cancer in January 2024, and had been battling the disease since. He spent 15 of his 16 MLB seasons with the Cubs, and he earned All-Star nods in 10 consecutive seasons, from 1984-93.

Star and nine-time Gold Glove winner with the Cubs, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005. He died Monday due to complications from cancer.

The Hall of Famer had been battling cancer and recently announced he was persisting through 'a challenging few months' of treatment.

Dave Parker passed away less than a month away from his induction ceremony, making his son's speech hit that much harder as it happened. Dave Parker II even mentioned that he died while writing his Hall of Fame speech.

Just this past month, the Rangers broke out their red hats for the first time this year vs. the Mariners. The red hats were the club’s only hats for its first three playoff seasons and a regular part of the rotation in the 2010-11 World Series runs.

It was an emotional day for the friends and family members of this year’s Clinton & Centre County Baseball Hall of Fame inductees. This year’s emcee, Dave Peters, welcomed everyone to the event and expressed his gratitude at being given the opportunity to speak.