Bonds, Clemens among eight on ‘Contemporary Era’ Hall of Fame ballot

After falling short for 10 years with the baseball writers, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Curt Schilling will all have a second chance to get into Cooperstown this fall. 

The Baseball Hall of Fame on Monday revealed the eight finalists on this year’s Contemporary Era Committee ballot, which features candidates whose primary contribution to the game came since 1980.

Bonds, Clemens and Schilling are joined by Albert Belle, Don Mattingly, Fred McGriff, Dale Murphy and Rafael Palmeiro. 

Players must receive 75% support from the Hall’s 16 electors, who will meet to discuss the candidacies and cast their votes at MLB’s Winter Meetings in San Diego on Dec. 4.

The results will be announced live on MLB Network later that night. 

Bonds, MLB’s single-season (73) and career (762) home run leader, received support from 66% of BBWAA members last year in his 10th and final appearance on the writers’ ballot. 

Clemens, who won 354 games and seven Cy Young awards during his 24-year playing career, got 65.2% of the vote. Both players’ percentages were their highest over a decade of eligibility, but still short of the 75% needed for induction.