The San Francisco Giants announced plans to retire Jeff Kent's No. 21 jersey as part of a Hall of Fame celebration at Oracle Park on August 29, 2026. This honor follows Kent's upcoming induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on July 26, 2026, in Cooperstown, New York. The event will include a special giveaway for the first 21,000 fans.
Jeff Kent, a former standout second baseman for the San Francisco Giants, is set for a memorable summer in 2026. On July 26, he will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. Just over a month later, on August 29, the Giants will retire his No. 21 jersey during a dedicated celebration at Oracle Park.
The announcement came on a Thursday, highlighting Kent's significant contributions to the team. Acquired in a 1996 trade that sent Matt Williams to Cleveland, Kent thrived in San Francisco over six seasons. He posted a .297/.368/.535 slash line, averaging 29 home runs and 115 RBIs per year. His peak came in 2000, when he won the National League MVP Award over teammate Barry Bonds, batting .334/.424/.596 with 33 homers, 125 RBIs, and 7.2 WAR— all career highs. Kent earned All-Star nods from 1999 to 2001.
Over his 17-year career across six teams, Kent hit 377 home runs, including 351 as a second baseman, making him the all-time leader at the position. He was elected to the Hall of Fame's Class of 2026 by the Contemporary Baseball Era Players Committee last month and has implied a desire to enter as a Giant, where he did his best work.
This retirement makes Kent the 14th Giant to have his number honored, joining legends like Willie Mays (No. 24), Barry Bonds (No. 25), and Willie McCovey (No. 44). The Giants also retired No. 42 league-wide for Jackie Robinson in 1997. Fans attending the August event will receive a custom Hall of Fame inductee replica ring, with tickets for 2026 promotions already on sale.
