After years of receiving just enough support to remain on the Hall of Fame ballot, Mark Buehrle is beginning to show signs of momentum.
The former White Sox left-hander earned 85 votes, which equates to 20% of the ballots in his sixth year. It is by far his highest level of support in what has been an uneven run since becoming eligible. Buehrle received 44 votes in 2021, dipped to 23 in 2022, rebounded to 42 in 2023, fell to 32 in 2024, and climbed back to 45 in 2025. To stay on the ballot, a candidate must appear on at least five percent of ballots, which Buehrle now has comfortably as he looks to make a push in his final four years of eligibility.
| Year | Votes | Percent |
| 2021 | 44 | 11% |
| 2022 | 23 | 5.8% |
| 2023 | 42 | 10.8% |
| 2024 | 32 | 8.3% |
| 2025 | 45 | 11.4% |
| 2026 | 85 | 20% |
Over a 16-year professional career, Buehrle compiled a 214–160 record with a 3.81 ERA combined between the White Sox, Marlins, and Blue Jays. The durable southpaw was a five-time All-Star and famously logged 14 consecutive seasons of 200 or more innings pitched, falling just four outs short of extending that streak to 15 in his final year. Immortalized with a statue on the concourse of Rate Field this past summer, Buehrle remains best known for his role on the 2005 World Series championship team, no-hitter against the Rangers two years later, and perfect game vs. the Rays in 2009.
Elsewhere on the ballot, Carlos Beltrán and former White Sox Andruw Jones surpassed the 75% threshold to enter into baseball immortality this summer in upstate New York. Other players like Chase Utley (59.1%), Andy Pettitte (48.5%), and Felix Hernandez (46.1%) were next in line but ultimately came up short, setting them up as prominent returnees in future voting. Candidates like Edwin Encarnacion, Gio Gonzalez, and Nick Markakis were among those who failed to receive enough support to maintain eligibility.
It’s unclear if Buehrle will ever find himself in the Hall of Fame via the BBWAA, even with the increase in support this past year. However, he has several more opportunities, and because of that, anything can happen.
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