Cooperstown, NY (My Sportsbook) - Eddie Murray, Lee Smith, Ryne Sandberg and Fernando Valenzuela were among 17 players on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot for the first time this year.

Pitcher Darryl Kile, who died during the 2002 season, is also on the ballot, which was released by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. There is a rule that normally requires players to be retired for five seasons before he can get on the Hall of Fame ballot, but that was waived for Kile.

Gary Carter is among 16 holdovers also on the ballot, joining Bruce Sutter and Jim Rice.

A player must be on 75 percent of the ballots to earn induction. Voting will end December 31 and the results will be announced January 7.

Pitcher Jim Kaat will be on the ballot for a final time, as players are allowed up to 15 years to remain on the ballot as long as they get at least five percent of the votes each time.

There was only one player inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002, as shortstop Ozzie Smith earned that honor.

Smith was selected on 433 of 472 ballots (91.7 percent) and Carter received 343 votes (72.7 percent) in the 2002 voting.

Lee Smith, who spent his first eight seasons with the Cubs, had a record 478 saves over 18 seasons. Sandberg, who played 15 years for the Cubs, compiled a .285 average with 282 homers and won nine Gold Gloves at second base.

Valenzuela, who played in his first 11 seasons with the Dodgers, registered a 173-153 career mark with a 3.54 ERA and had 2,074 strikeouts in 17 seasons. He was the NL Cy Young Award winner and NL Rookie of the Year in 1981.

Murray, a first baseman who played the majority of his career with the Baltimore Orioles, hit 504 homers and had a .287 batting average over his 21 seasons. He became the only switch-hitter to have at least 500 homers and 3,000 hits.