12 Active 1st-Ballot MLB Hall of Famers

As we prepare to watch Barry Larkin take his rightful place in Cooperstown this summer, the game's stars constantly remind us that we're watching players who will be doing the same at some point in the future.

There's a certain prestige that comes along with entering the Hall of Fame, but when you're inducted on the first ballot, it solidifies your status in the league's history even further.

With all of these players still taking the field on a regular basis, it's probably premature to think about when they'll be entering Cooperstown.

But it wouldn't be altogether surprising to see their inductions sooner rather than later.

Chipper Jones

When you look at the statistics that Chipper Jones has compiled during his 19 years with the Atlanta Braves, it's not all that difficult to see that he'll have a place in Cooperstown in a matter of years.

The one-time NL MVP winner is 41 home runs shy of 500 for his career and is one of the best power-hitting third basemen in the league, evidenced by a career OPS approaching 1.000.

Jones never let his strong swing get in the way of his ability to get on base, as he's hit for a career .304 batting average and .402 on-base percentage.

Mariano Rivera

Baseball's greatest closer took a step in the wrong direction this spring, as Mariano Rivera's 2012 season was ended after he sustained a torn ACL while shagging fly balls.

He claims he'll be back with the Yankees at some point, but even if he's not, taking into account his regular-season and postseason prowess, we should all realize that we won't see a closer like this for years to come.

A 2.21 career ERA and astonishing 0.70 career postseason ERA will certainly help punch his ticket to Cooperstown as soon as he decides to hang it up and becomes eligible.

Justin Verlander

After taking home both AL Cy Young and MVP honors last season, Justin Verlander is back at it again in 2012, posting a 5-1 record and 2.14 ERA in nine starts.

He's won at least 17 games in five of the last six seasons, and with him headed in that direction again, the 29-year-old ace may very well still have his best days ahead of him—scary thought.

Albert Pujols

Having either won or finished second in the NL MVP voting in seven of the past nine seasons, it was no surprise to see Albert Pujols in the conversation once again in 2011.

It was a down year in comparison to past seasons, and his struggles have continued at his new home in Los Angeles, as he's only hit two home runs through 40 games and is barely batting above .200.

Even with the recent struggles, a .326 career average with 448 home runs, nearly 1,500 RBI and an OPS above 1.000 is a testament to his track record for success, and it's hard to believe that anyone would doubt that he'll return to form eventually.

Todd Helton

Some critics out there may give Todd Helton's statistics less notice since he plays in the relatively hitter-friendly confines of Coors Field.

While the thin air certainly doesn't hurt, just as important to Helton's success has been his durability.

Since his debut in 1997, he has played in 1,960 games in 15 seasons. The 2008 season in which Helton appeared in only 83 games is the only significant blemish on an otherwise reliable resume.

He's earned a .321 career batting average in 16 seasons with the Rockies and could reach the 2,500 hit mark this year.

Jim Thome

After seeing him launch 604 career home runs in 22 seasons in this league, you'd have to think that Jim Thome's time in baseball is winding down.

Thome's appeal in Hall of Fame discussions is different than many sluggers approaching eligibility in that he's never been tied to performance-enhancing drugs like some of the biggest names in the game have.

He's had issues striking out (as many power hitters do) but has been able to draw walks effectively throughout his career, making him even more valuable.

Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter's consistency has led the New York Yankees to multiple World Series rings and has put him up there with some of the best shortstops to play the game.

After appearing in only 15 games in 1995, Jeter found a permanent home with the team the following season, where he would prove to be one of the most clutch players in Yankee history.

Since 1996, he has appeared in less than 148 games in a season only once (119 games played in 2003). Spending so much time in the lineup can bring a player's numbers down a bit, but not Jeter.

His .314 career average and 3,147 hits only add to the legacy that he'll leave behind when he eventually hangs up his cleats.

Ichiro Suzuki

Having only known one team in Major League Baseball, it's hard to imagine Ichiro Suzuki playing in anything other than a Seattle Mariners uniform.

His 2011 season showed a slight decline from his past seasons in Seattle, but he's still a great outfielder and remains a constant threat in the batter's box.

With at least 200 hits in all but one season with the Mariners and an average of nearly 40 stolen bases per year, his stat line should certainly be even more Cooperstown worthy by the time he hangs it up.

CC Sabathia

Continuing to live up to his massive contract with the New York Yankees, CC Sabathia won 19 games last season while posting his lowest ERA since the 2008 season.

At just 31 years of age, he's already got 200 wins within reach, and having never pitched fewer than 180 innings since entering the league, he'll likely stay on the mound long enough to put up gaudy numbers for years to come.

Miguel Cabrera

The Detroit Tigers' success in recent seasons has been thanks in no small part to slugger Miguel Cabrera.

Hitting towering home runs for a decade now, it's sometimes hard to believe that Cabrera isn't even 30 years old yet and will likely be at it for another decade.

If last season was any indication of what he'll be doing in the near future, his .344 batting average and 1.033 OPS in 2011 prove that he's certainly the catalyst of any offense he's a part of.

Roy Halladay

Coming up just short of consecutive NL Cy Young awards last year, Roy Halladay was his usual self in 2011.

He finished the season with a 19-6 record and 2.35 ERA, proving that he's one of the best arms in the business.

He's only eight wins away from the 200-win mark, and with his WHIP improving in each of the past six seasons, it's hard to believe Halladay will be slowing down anytime soon.

Alex Rodriguez

If it weren't for the fact that Alex Rodriguez will forever be associated with those who used performance-enhancing supplements, he'd be one of the most unanimous selections for the Hall of Fame in a long time.

The next Hall of Fame ballot should be interesting, as players like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa will be eligible for the first time. As they go, likely so will A-Rod.

As it stands, Rodriguez's 634 career home runs, 2,815 hits, 1,908 RBI and .301 career batting average are undeniably impressive. It's just a matter of how the baseball writers see it when casting their votes.