A couple of weeks ago when the Baseball Hall of Fame announced its Contemporary Era player ballot, the biggest headline was that Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens would once again be considered despite drawing little support their first time in front of the committee.

But tucked away at the bottom of the announcement was a detail that could have major implications for the pair’s Cooperstown hopes.

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“Beginning with the December 2025 Contemporary Baseball Era ballot for players, any candidate who appears on a ballot and does not receive votes from at least five of the 16 voters will not be eligible to be placed on the ballot within its next three-year cycle,” the Hall of Fame announcement reads. “Any such candidates would remain eligible to return to an Era Committee ballot in

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