Hall of Fame ballot.

The Baseball Writers' Association of America 2015 Hall of Fame ballot features 34 names, including 17 holdovers from previous elections and 17 newcomers. The voting results will be announced at 2 p.m. on Jan. 6.

With so much star power on the ballot, a record number of candidates could appear on 75 percent of all ballots cast -- the minimum threshold needed to earn election. Since the BBWAA began electing Hall of Fame candidates in 1936, only once -- in that inaugural election -- have five candidates earned enough support for election. That class included Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner.

Since then, the BBWAA has elected four candidates only twice -- 1947, when Mickey Cochrane, Frankie Frisch, Lefty Grove and Carl Hubbell were elected; and 1955, when Joe DiMaggio, Gabby Hartnett, Ted Lyons and Dazzy Vance earned election.

The writers nearly elected four candidates in 2014, when Biggio missed election by two...