Ken Griffey Jr. headlines 2016 MLB Hall of Fame ballot

There are a total of 15 first-time candidates on the 2016 Hall of Fame ballot being mailed this week to approximately 475 voting members of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Near-miss repeat candidate Mike Piazza, who fell just short of the 75 percent of votes in the 2015 Hall of Fame class that featured Craig Biggio, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz, appears on the 2016 ballot.

Griffey Jr., Hoffman and infielders David Eckstein, Troy Glaus and Mike Lowell are newcomers. Piazza polled 69.9 percent of the electorate in 2015 and fell 28 votes shy of the required amount for election.

The only other players to be named on more than half the ballots were first baseman Jeff Bagwell (55.7) and outfielder Tim Raines (55.0). Players may remain on the ballot provided they receive at least five percent of the vote for up to 10 years. Prior to 2015, players remained on the ballot for up to 15 years if they received five percent of the vote. Two players remain of those that were grandfathered on the ballot: shortstop Alan Trammell (15th year) and relief pitcher Lee Smith (14th year).

Starting pitchers Roger Clemens, Curt Schilling and Mike Mussina, first basemen Fred McGriff and McGwire; second baseman Jeff Kent; third baseman-designated hitter Edgar Martinez; infielder Nomar Garciaparra and outfielders Barry Bonds, Larry Walker, Gary Sheffield and Sammy Sosa are also on the ballot.

Griffey played 22 seasons and was American League MVP in 1997 with the Seattle Mariners. He ended his career with 2,781 hits, including 630 home runs, the sixth-highest total in MLB history. A 13-time All-Star, Griffey won 10 Gold Glove Awards and seven Silver Slugger Awards.

Hoffman’s 601 career saves and 856 games finished are second only to Mariano Rivera’s MLB-record totals of 652-952. He played 18 seasons with the Florida Marlins, San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers, finished in the top 10 of NL Cy Young Award voting four times and was the runner-up twice, in 1998 and 2006. The seven-time All-Star had 30 or more saves in 14 of 15 seasons from 1995 through 2009 and converted 41 consecutive save opportunities, a record since surpassed.

Eckstein played for five clubs in 10 seasons in the majors and participated in nine postseason series, including World Series championships with the Anaheim Angels in 2002 and the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006. He was MVP of the ’06 World Series and hit .333 with 17 hits and nine runs combined in his two World Series.

Glaus was the World Series MVP in 2002 when he hit .385 with three home runs and eight runs batted in as part of a postseason record of .321 with nine home runs and 16 RBI in 24 games. Glaus hit 320 career home runs of which 47 in 2000 when he led the AL.

Closer Billy Wagner, whose 422 career saves rank second among left-handers, and fellow lefty Mike Hampton, the 2000 NLCS MVP, are also on the ballot for the first time along with catchers Brad Ausmus and Jason Kendall, catcher-first baseman Mike Sweeney, infielder Mark Grudzielanek and outfielder Randy Winn.

Writers must return ballots by a Dec. 21 postmark. Votes are counted jointly by BBWAA secretary-treasurer Jack O’Connell and Ernst & Young partner Michael DiLecce. Results will be announced by Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2016, on MLB Network.

2016 Hall of Fame ballot: Garret Anderson, Brad Ausmus, Jeff Bagwell, Barry Bonds, Luis Castillo, Roger Clemens, David Eckstein, Jim Edmonds, Nomar Garciaparra, Troy Glaus, Ken Griffey Jr., Mark Grudzielanek, Mike Hampton, Trevor Hoffman, Jason Kendall, Jeff Kent, Mike Lowell, Edgar Martinez, Fred McGriff, Mark McGwire, Mike Mussina, Mike Piazza, Tim Raines, Curt Schilling, Gary Sheffield, Lee Smith, Sammy Sosa, Mike Sweeney, Alan Trammell, Billy Wagner, Larry Walker, Randy Winn.