36.2% and Sosa 12.5% of the total votes, with 75% required for induction. Eligibility requires that a player has "been retired five seasons" or be deceased for at least six months. Some believe the milestone has become less important with the large number of new members; 10 players joined the club from 1999 to 2009. Additionally, several of these recent members - including all seven aforementioned eligible members - have had ties to performance-enhancing drugs. Some believe that by not electing McGwire to the Hall the voters were establishing a "referendum" on how they would treat players from the "Steroid Era". On January 8, 2014, Palmeiro became the first member of the club to be removed from the BBWAA Hall of Fame ballot after failing to appear on at least 5.0% of ballots. Key Members Stats updated as of the end of the 2022 season. See also Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame, includes a "500 Homerun Club" exhibit List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders 3,000 hit club References General Specific Major League Baseball statistics Home run leaders, lifetime 500