Baseball HOF induction roundup: Plaques, speeches from 2020 class

The National Baseball Hall of Fame welcomed its class of 2020 on Wednesday as Derek Jeter, Larry Walker, Ted Simmons, and Marvin Miller were all enshrined in Cooperstown.

Derek Jeter

Career WAR: 73
Year on ballot: 1st
Percentage of vote: 99.7%
HOF hat: Yankees
HOF plaque:

"Heartbeat of a Yankees dynasty. Defined a two-decade run of Bronx dominance that produced 17 postseason appearances, seven American League pennants, and five World Series championships. Selected to 14 All-Star Games and named 1996 A.L. Rookie of the Year, winner of five Gold Glove Awards, appearing in all of his 2,674 games in the field at shortstop. Totaled 200-or-more hits in eight seasons, retiring sixth all-time with 3,465. Scored 1,923 runs, with 100-or-more in 13 seasons. In a record 158 postseason games, batted .308 with 111 runs, 200 hits, 32 doubles, and 20 homers. Earned 2000 World Series Most Valuable Player Award."

Larry Walker

Career WAR: 68.7
Year on ballot: 10th
Percentage of vote: 76.6%
HOF hat: Rockies
HOF plaque:

"Dynamic right fielder with a feared plate presence who brought all-out effort and five-tool skill set to his native Canada's Expos before becoming a Rockies superstar. Selected as the 1997 National League MVP after amassing 409 total bases, the most in the big leagues in 49 seasons. The Major League leader in batting average three times over four years, hitting .363 in 1998, .379 in 1999, and .350 in 2001. The Five-time All-Star's arm accuracy and range earned him seven Gold Glove Awards, and he finished his career as the first player in history with at least a .310 batting average, 300 home runs, and 200 stolen bases."

Ted Simmons

Modern Era Ballot
Career WAR: 54.2
HOF hat: Cardinals
HOF plaque:

"Tough-as-nails switch-hitting catcher whose plate production places him in the upper echelon among backstops. At the time of his retirement, he led all catchers with 2,472 hits and 483 doubles, ranking eighth with 1,771 games behind the plate. He Batted .300 or better in seven full seasons, finishing six of those among his league's top 10. The eight-time All-Star with the Cardinals and Brewers assembled six seasons with 20-plus home runs. He concluded his career as the all-time National League leader in switch-hit homers. He later served in a number of player personnel roles, including Pirates general manager."

Marvin Miller

Modern Era Ballot
HOF plaque:

"Game-changing labor leader with a 17-year tenure as executive director of Major League Baseball Players Association from 1966 to 1982. Empowered ballplayers, forging a new economic framework for all of professional sports. Negotiated the first collective bargaining agreement between players and owners prior to the 1968 season. Established arbitration as a means to settle disputes, through which players earned the right to offer their services to any team via free agency. His efforts led to vast improvements for players in compensation and conditions on and off the field."

(Videos courtesy: MLB.com)