2015 Baseball Hall of Fame Ballot Announced

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — On Monday, baseball’s 2015 Hall of Fame ballot was released and features 44 players, including 27 newcomers. 

Three of the best pitchers of their era highlight the list of first-timers up for induction. Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, and John Smoltz join a bevy of others looking to be enshrined among the games greats in Cooperstown next summer.

Martinez owns the sixth-best win percentage of all-time at .687, while Johnson became the last 300-game winner in his final season of 2009. Smoltz, who racked up 231 wins and 121 saves in 21 seasons, will be looking to join former Atlanta Braves teammates Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine who were selected to the Hall in 2014.

Carlos Delgado, Nomar Garciappara, Gary Sheffield and Tony Clark, the current head of the players’ association, are also among those appearing on the ballot for the first time. 

Among the 17 players making a return to the ballot, Craig Biggio seems to be a favorite for enshrinement. The former Houston Astros infielder missed induction by two votes last year, receiving 74.8 percent of the vote.

Also on the list are Mike Piazza, Jeff Bagwell, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Roger Clemens. Piazza, who earned 62.2 percent of the 75 percent needed, has hit more home runs than any other catcher ever (396). Tim Raines, and Alan Trammell are among the others back on the ballot while Don Mattingly enters his 15th, and final, year of eligibility.

In order to be inducted, a player must receive 75% of the vote on a ballot. Members of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) are only allowed to put 10 names on a singular ballot. Enshrined along with those from the BBWAA ballot is anyone elected by the 16-person Golden Era Committee, which will make its announcement on Dec. 8. Results of the BBWAA ballot will be revealed on Jan. 6, 2015.

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