Nov. 24--Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz -- a trio that combined for nine Cy Young awards -- headline the 2015 Hall of Fame ballot.
The ballot, released Monday, includes 17 holdovers from previous elections -- most notably Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mike Piazza and Craig Biggio -- and 17 newcomers.
Players must receive 75% of the vote for election, with results announced Jan. 6.
Dodgers Manager Don Mattingly appears on the ballot for a 15th and final time; his support has dropped from 28.2% in his first year on the ballot to 8.2% last year.
The Baseball Writers Assn. of America did not elect any player into the 2013 Hall of Fame class, rejecting Bonds and Clemens in the wake of links to steroid use. Bonds won a record seven Most Valuable Player awards; Clemens won a record seven Cy Young awards.
The baseball writers group elected three players -- Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas -- into the 2014 class. The BBWAA has not elected at least three players in consecutive years since 1954-55.
In addition to Johnson, Martinez and Smoltz, the newcomers on this year's ballot include Dodgers broadcaster and two-time batting champion Nomar Garciaparra, sluggers Carlos Delgado and Gary Sheffield, and two stars of the Angels' 2002 World Series championship team, closer Troy Percival and outfielder Darin Erstad.
Percival, a four-time All-Star, ranks ninth on the all-time list with 358 saves. Erstad, a two-time All-Star, won Gold Glove awards as a first baseman, left fielder and center fielder. He also had 240 hits in 2000, ranking among the top 15 in major league history for a single season.
Erstad, now the head coach at the University of Nebraska, joked Monday about his name appearing on the ballot.
"Didn't realize rollovers to second base and blown out hammys got u on the #HOF2014 ballot!?" he tweeted.
UPDATES
Monday, 3:27 p.m.: Corrects players elected to Hall of Fame in 2014 to include Frank Thomas.
This story was originally published at 12:40 p.m.
