The newest member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame will be the 24th shortstop enshrined in the red-brick museum nestled on Main Street in downtown Cooperstown, N.Y.

Barry Larkin joined the Class of 2012 on Monday as the sole electee of the Baseball Writers' Association of America this year. To gain admittance, a player must receive at least 75 percent of the vote.

The 12-time National League All-Star and three-time Gold Glove Award winner, who played his entire 19-year career for his hometown Cincinnati Reds, appeared on 86.4 percent of the ballots cast. Last year, Larkin finished third behind inductees Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven when his name appeared on 62.1 percent of the ballots cast. It was Larkin's third year on the ballot.