NEW YORK — Barry Larkin received 51.6 percent of the votes when he appeared on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time in 2010, then got 62.1 percent last year.

With no shoo-ins among this year’s new candidates, he was the leading contender to gain election when voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America was announced Monday.

“It’s a shot of immortality. The best of the game in the history — in the history of the game,” he said. “To be emblazoned into that history of the game is a tremendous honor.”

A player needs at least 75 percent to gain election. A 12-time All-Star and the 1995 NL MVP, Larkin fell 75 votes short as Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven were elected last year.

“I certainly have some anxiety about it, but not really nervous. I have a great perspective on it,” Larkin said during a telephone interview with The Associated Press. “I had a chance to speak to Jim Rice, who got inducted on his 15th time, and he really put me at comfort and ease and said, ‘You know, it’s really out of our hands, and there’s nothing we can really do about it. We don’t campaign for it, and it is what it is.’”

Spending his entire major league career with the Cincinnati Reds from 1986-04, Larkin hit .295 with 198 home runs, 960 RBIs, 2,340 hits and 379 stolen bases. He won three Gold Gloves and the 1990 World Series.

He had hoped to return for a 20th season in 2005 at age 40, but retired after the Reds told him they didn’t want him back.

“In 2005, I wasn’t really sure if I was completely done playing. I still had that question,” he said. “I don’t have that anymore. I know it’s the right move. It was the right decision. It was time to move on.”