Candidates must receive 75 percent support from voters to gain election, and can remain on the ballot for up to 15 years so long as they receive at least 5 percent support from the electorate in the previous season.
Two returning candidates — pitcher Bert Blyleven and second baseman Roberto Alomar — missed out on election by fewer than 10 votes, the first time that has ever happened in the history of  BBWAA’s Hall of Fame voting process.

In addition to Blyleven, Alomar and McGwire, the 11 other players returning to the ballot for induction in 2011 are: Harold Baines, Barry Larkin, Edgar Martinez, Don Mattingly, Fred McGriff, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, Dave Parker, Tim Raines, Lee Smith and Alan Trammell.

There are 19 first-time candidates up for election. In addition to Bagwell, Gonzalez, Palmeiro and Walker, Carlos Baerga, Bret Boone, Kevin Brown, John Franco, Marquis Grissom, Lenny Harris, Bobby Higginson, Charles Johnson, Al Leiter, Tino Martinez, Raul Mondesi, John Olerud, Kirk Reuter, Benito Santiago and B.J. Surhoff will appear on the ballot.