The Baseball Writers’ Association of America announced 15 newcomers on the 2016 Hall of Fame Ballot, which is being mailed out to voters this week.
Among those now looking to get enshrined in Cooperstown, N.Y. are three former Dodgers: Garret Anderson, Brad Ausmus and Mark Grudzielanek. Candidates need to receive at least 75 percent of the vote to be elected to the Hall of Fame, and at least 5 percent to remain on the ballot.
A player can remain on the ballot for up to 10 years. Returning on the 2016 ballot with varying degrees of a connection to the Dodgers are Nomar Garciaparra, Jeff Kent, Fred McGriff, Mark McGwire, Mike Piazza and Gary Sheffield.
Piazza came closest to getting enshrined last year, receiving 69 percent of the vote. Garciaparra received 5.5 percent of the vote, Kent 14 percent, McGriff 12.9 percent and Sheffield 11.7 percent.
Of that group of six players, McGwire is the lone former player whose ties to the Dodgers are only through coaching. Anderson only spent one season with the Dodgers (2010), appearing in 80 games and hitting .181/.204/.271. Anderson otherwise played 15 of 17 seasons with the Angels.
Ausmus was with the Dodgers in 2009 and 2010, his final two seasons in the Majors, appearing in 57 games and hitting .266/.329/.323. Grudzielanek appeared in 605 games over five seasons with the Dodgers, batting .284/.328/.389.
His best season came in 1999 when he hit .326/.376/.436 with seven home runs, 23 doubles and 46 RBIs. Results will be announced Jan. 6, 2016.
