"Braves icon Dale Murphy knows that time has nearly run out on him to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by writers. After this election there will be one more year on the ballot for "Murph," who admits being surprised by the low percentage of votes he's received in the past 13 years.

With the 2012 Hall of Fame class to be announced Monday by the Baseball Writers Association of America, Murphy still thinks he belongs in Cooperstown and remains hopeful of enshrinement. Fifteen years is the maximum on the BBWAA ballot, but there's always the Veterans Committee if he's not voted in by writers.

Reasons cited by writers for leaving out Murphy were his .265 career batting average and brief period as an elite player. A former catcher converted to center fielder, "Murph" was a two-time National League MVP (1982, 1983), seven-time All-Star and recipient of five Gold Glove and four Silver Slugger awards."