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Dog’s days
Fred McGriff is one of 33 players on the 2011 BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot. (National Baseball Hall of Fame Library)

View a photo gallery of the 2011 BBWAA ballot

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. – Fred McGriff was cut from his high school baseball team as a sophomore – and became so determined to improve he road his bike 20 miles to the gym to train.

All that hard work paid off.

First class
Don Mattingly is one of 33 players on the 2011 BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot. (National Baseball Hall of Fame Library)

View a photo gallery of the 2011 BBWAA ballot

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. – His career is unlike almost every other Yankees star, because it included no World Series glory.

But even without a championship on his resumé, Don Mattingly remains an all-time favorite among Yankees fans – and deeply etched into the team's record book.

Ring bearer
Tino Martinez is one of 33 players on the 2011 BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot. (Green/National Baseball Hall of Fame Library)

View a photo gallery of the 2011 BBWAA ballot

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. – For a man who played less than half of his big league seasons in New York, Tino Martinez has always appeared most at home in pinstripes.

Four World Series rings – and a legion of adoring fans – will do that.

Pure hitter
Edgar Martinez compiled a .312 career batting average in 18 big league seasons.

View a photo gallery of the 2011 BBWAA ballot

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. – Edgar Martinez has been elected into the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame, the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame and the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame.

Now he's got his sights set on Cooperstown.

Big-time pitcher
Al Leiter won 162 games in 19 big league seasons.

View a photo gallery of the 2011 BBWAA ballot

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. – Al Leiter pitched parts of six big league seasons before establishing himself at the major league level.

But after that, the strikeout-minded left-hander made up for lost time – both on the field and in the community.

Cincinnati star
Barry Larkin appears in the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot for the second time in 2011. (NBHOF/Sauritch)

View a photo gallery of the 2011 BBWAA ballot

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. – His career dawned in the shadow of Ozzie Smith's, peaked at the height of Cal Ripken mania and ended as Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez redefined the shortstop position.

But check the numbers: 12 All-Star Game selections in 19 seasons for Barry Larkin. It doesn't get much better than that for any shortstop.

For the defense
Charles Johnson helped the Marlins win the 1997 World Series. (NBHOF/Mangin)

View a photo gallery of the 2011 BBWAA ballot

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. – For pitchers, the standard of excellence is the perfect game.

For catchers, it's the perfect season – like the one authored in 1997 by Charles Johnson.

Tough Tiger
Bobby Higginson is making his debut on the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot.

View a photo gallery of the 2011 BBWAA ballot

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. – Bobby Higginson fought for 11 seasons to be the best player he could be.

As a native of the tough streets of Philadelphia and the grandson of a heavyweight boxer, Higginson knew no other way.

In a pinch
Lenny Harris recorded the most pinch hits in big league history. (NBHOF/Pilling)

View a photo gallery of the 2011 BBWAA ballot

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. – It was a job Lenny Harris never wanted, because it meant he wasn't playing regularly.

But pinch-hitting became Harris' destiny. And no one did it better.

Perfect combination
Marquis Grissom is one of 33 players on the 2011 BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot. (Mangin/National Baseball Hall of Fame Library)

View a photo gallery of the 2011 BBWAA ballot

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. – The combination of power and speed on the diamond is an unusual one, and players who translate that ability into success are rarer still.

Marquis Grissom had both – as well as a burning work ethic. The result was one of the most unique careers in big league history.

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