In the dead of winter, Major League Baseball’s most coveted voting takes place. The ballots with 33 names of former major leaguers who qualify for consideration for the Hall of Fame are in the hands of the Baseball Writers Association of America. That is the group originally authorized by the Hall of Fame to select members.

Ballots must be returned by Dec. 31, with the announcement of any who obtained 75 percent of the vote to be made at 2 p.m. on Jan. 7. The some 500 writers who will vote have covered the game for at least 10 years and can vote for a maximum of 10 players.

There are 17 first-timers on the ballot. Eddie Murray, Ryne Sandberg and Lee Smith head that list.

Sixteen names are holdovers. Players can remain on the ballot for 15 years if they receive at least 5 percent of the vote each year. That list includes Jim Kaat (last year of eligibility), Jim Rice and Bruce Sutter. Most likely to be voted in from this list is Gary Carter. Want to play “voting writer?” Let’s vote on Carter.

He is on the list for the sixth year. He was 11 votes shy of making the Hall of Fame last year. The criteria for selection as stated in the BBWAA rules says, “Voting shall be based upon the player’s record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.”

Comparison with those already in the Hall of Fame has been the primary guideline for voters. Recently, more has been made of comparisons with those who played the same position and made the Hall of Fame.

Eleven catchers are in the Hall. Yogi Berra, Gabby Hartnett, Ernie Lombardi and Roy Campanella are among them. Many believe that Johnny Bench was the best all-around player ever behind the plate. Carlton Fisk was the last catcher elected (2000).

Here are some of the numbers. You, as a voter, define the weight to be given the different criteria as set forth above.

. Bench: 2,158 games, .267 batting average, 389 home runs, 2,048 hits, 1,376 runs batted in, 10 Gold Gloves, 14-time All-Star, Rookie of the Year, two MVPs.

. Fisk: 2,499 games, .269 average, 376 HR, 2,356 hits, 1,330 RBI, 11 time All-Star, Rookie of the Year.

. Carter 2,296 games, .262 average, 324 HR, 2,092 hits, 1,225 RBI, 11-time All-Star, two MVPs, three Gold Gloves.

Should the comparison be by position? Should the Hall of Fame be reserved for the greatest players whose names simply when mentioned leave no doubt they should be there (Ruth, Cobb, Young, Aaron)? Does using numbers as a comparison continually reduce the caliber of player who gets elected because the voters just drop to the next name with the closest numbers and elect him?

Do you vote for Carter and why? Hall of Fame behind one’s name is forever. You are in the thinnest of baseball air and much in demand.

If the phone rings at Carter’s home around 2 p.m. on Jan. 7, he will know it is Jack Lang, the secretary of the BBWAA, and Carter’s heart will pound. Only those selected are called.

Old Town native Gary Thorne is an ESPN and NBC sportscaster.