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Manny Ramirez, Vladimir Guerrero, Ivan Rodriguez, Jorge Posada on Hall of Fame ballot

By The Sports Xchange
Manny Ramirez of the Oakland Athletics leaves the dugout during batting practice before the Athletics Cactus League spring training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Phoenix Municipal Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona on March 7, 2012. UPI/Art Foxall
1 of 3 | Manny Ramirez of the Oakland Athletics leaves the dugout during batting practice before the Athletics Cactus League spring training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Phoenix Municipal Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona on March 7, 2012. UPI/Art Foxall | License Photo

Manny Ramirez, Vladimir Guerrero, Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez and Jorge Posada are among the notable names eligible for the first time to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in the Class of 2017.

Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines and Trevor Hoffman are all back on the ballot after narrowly missing out on induction in last year's balloting. Bagwell fell 15 votes shy last year.

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The Class of 2017 will be announced on Jan. 18 at 6 p.m. ET on MLB Network and MLB.com.

Ramirez, a 12-time All-Star left fielder, is 15th on the majors' all-time home runs list with 555. He collected 2,574 hits and drove in 1,831 RBIs while batting .312 over 19 seasons with five teams. However, his career accomplishments were clouded by failed drug tests and multiple suspensions.

Guerrero, a right fielder, won the 2004 American League MVP and earned nine All-Star selections. He hit .318 (2,590 hits) with 449 homers and 1,496 RBIs in his 16 seasons between four organizations.

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Rodriguez was the AL MVP in 1999 and accrued 14 All-Star selections to establish himself as one of the best catchers of his generation. He batted .296 (2,844 hits) with 311 homers and 1,332 RBIs in 21 seasons with six teams.

Posada, who anchored four World Series championship teams as the catcher for the Yankees, earned five All-Star nominations and five Silver Slugger awards in 17 seasons, all with New York. He hit .273 with 275 homers and 1,065 RBIs.

Players must receive 75 percent of the vote from eligible Baseball Writers' Association of America members to be elected. Voters can list 10 players, who remain eligible for one ten-year window.

Last year, Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza were the only two players enshrined in Cooperstown.

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