The 2012 Hall of Fame ballot has been mailed out to roughly 600 eligible members of the Baseball Writer Association of America. Among the 13 new candidates on this year’s ballot are former Orioles catcher Javy Lopez and Baltimore native and Milford Mill graduate Brian Jordan, who was an outfielder for four teams in a 15-season career.

There are no slam-dunk Hall of Famers in the new group that is led by former outfielders Bernie Williams, Tim Salmon and Ruben Sierra and infielder Vinny Castilla.

Also on the ballot are 14 holdovers, including longtime Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro, who received just 11 percent of the vote last year, his first on the ballot.

Palmeiro amassed than 3,000 hits and 500 home runs in his 20-season career (seven with the Orioles), but a positive test for the banned substance stanozolol in 2005 adversely affected his Hall chances. To stay on the ballot, a player must receive at least 5 percent of the vote submitted by BBWAA members who have at least 10 years in the association.

For election, a player must receive at least 75 percent of the vote. Former Cincinnati Reds shortstop Barry Larkin is the returnee with the most support from last year, when he was named on 62.1 percent of submitted ballots.

Former Orioles Tim Raines and Lee Smith also return to the ballot this year.

Results of the voting will be announced Jan. 9.

Here is the complete ballot: Jeff Bagwell, Jeromy Burnitz, Vinny Castilla, Juan Gonzalez, Brian Jordan, Barry Larkin, Javy Lopez, Edgar Martinez, Don Mattingly, Fred McGriff, Mark McGwire, Jack Morris, Bill Mueller, Terry Mulholland, Dale Murphy, Phil Nevin, Rafael Palmeiro, Brad Radke, Tim Raines, Tim Salmon, Ruben Sierra, Lee Smith, Alan Trammell, Larry Walker, Bernie Williams, Tony Womack, Eric Young.