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First-ballot Hall of Famers

Ty Cobb received 222 of a possible 226 votes in 1936. AP

Joe DiMaggio and Rogers Hornsby were not first-ballot Hall of Famers. Neither were Yogi Berra, Roy Campanella, Jimmie Foxx, Carl Hubbell, Harmon Killebrew, Eddie Mathews or Mel Ott. In fact, no player has been a unanimous choice on the first ballot.

Since the first Hall of Fame election in 1936, 29 players have been elected in their first year on the ballot. Other than the inaugural Hall election, only once have three first-year candidates been elected in one year (Nolan Ryan, George Brett, Robin Yount in 1999).

Four pairs of first-year eligibles have gained admission to Cooperstown -- Jackie Robinson and Bob Feller (1962); Hank Aaron and Frank Robinson (1982); Johnny Bench and Carl Yastrzemski (1989); Jim Palmer and Joe Morgan (1990).

First and Foremost
First-ballot Hall of Famers with year inducted and primary position, listed by Baseball Writers' Association of America voting percentage:
Player	Year	Pos.	Pct.
Tom Seaver	1992	RHP	98.84
Nolan Ryan	1999	RHP	98.79
Ty Cobb	1936	CF	98.23
George Brett	1999	3B	98.19
Hank Aaron	1982	RF	97.83
Mike Schmidt	1995	3B	96.52
Johnny Bench	1989	C	96.42
Steve Carlton	1994	LHP	95.82
Honus Wagner	1936	SS	95.13
Babe Ruth	1936	RF	95.13
Willie Mays	1979	CF	94.68
Carl Yastrzemski	1989	LF	94.63
Bob Feller	1962	RHP	93.75
Reggie Jackson	1993	RF	93.62
Ted Williams	1966	LF	93.38
Stan Musial	1969	LF	93.24
Jim Palmer	1990	RHP	92.57
Brooks Robinson	1983	3B	91.98
Christy Mathewson	1936	RHP	90.71
Rod Carew	1991	2B	90.52
Frank Robinson	1982	RF	89.16
Al Kaline	1980	RF	88.31
Mickey Mantle	1974	CF	88.22
Sandy Koufax	1972	LHP	86.87
Dave Winfield	2001	OF/DH	84.47
Bob Gibson	1981	RHP	84.04
Ernie Banks	1977	SS	83.81
Walter Johnson	1936	RHP	83.63
Warren Spahn	1973	LHP	82.89
Willie Stargell	1988	LF	82.44
Kirby Puckett	2001	OF	82.14
Joe Morgan	1990	2B	81.76
Willie McCovey	1986	1B	81.41
Lou Brock	1985	LF	79.75
Jackie Robinson	1962	2B	77.50
Robin Yount	1999	SS	77.46

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