Ex-Brave Gant on Hall of Fame ballot

Former Braves player Ron Gant is one of 10 first-time candidates on this year’s baseball Hall of Fame ballot.

Career steals leader Rickey Henderson heads the lists, which also includes holdover Dale Murphy, a former Braves outfielder.

Gant, a two-time All-Star, played 16 seasons, his first seven with the Braves. He had a career batting average of .256. He finished with 321 home runs and 1,008 RBIs. Gant was No. 13 on Atlanta Magazine’s 30 Greatest Atlanta Braves list.

Just 23 players are on this year’s ballot, the smallest group ever. Other newcomers are Jay Bell, David Cone, Mark Grace, Jesse Orosco, Dan Plesac, Greg Vaughn, Mo Vaughn and Matt Williams. Holdovers include Mark McGwire, Jim Rice, Harold Baines, Bert Blyleven, Andre Dawson. Tommy John, Don Mattingly, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, Dave Parker, Tim Raines, Lee Smith and Alan Trammell.

Results of balloting will announced Jan. 12, 2009. Inductions, which will include anyone elected by the Veterans Committee, are scheduled for July 26 at Cooperstown, N.Y. The Veterans Committee vote will be announced next Monday.