Portugal Colonial - Beltre, Mauer, Helton into baseball Hall of Fame

Beltre, regarded as one of the greatest third baseman of all time during a career that included stints with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox and Texas Rangers, achieved entry on the first attempt, along with former Minnesota Twins catcher Mauer.

Former Colorado Rockies first baseman Helton was voted into the Hall of Fame on his sixth attempt.

The three players will be formally inducted into the Hall of Fame in a ceremony in Cooperstown, New York on July 21.

"It's something I never even dreamed of," Beltre told MLB.com.

"I can't even believe I'm going to be on the same podium with those guys."

Entrants to the Hall of Fame are decided by an annual vote of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWA).

Players must obtain support from 75 percent of ballots submitted in order to enter. Beltre was voted in with a landslide 95.1 percent of ballots while Helton received 79.7 percent and Mauer 76.1 percent.

But there was disappointment for former New York Yankees slugger Sheffield on his 10th and final chance to be voted into the hall.

Sheffield, a nine-time All-Star and member of the 1997 World Series-winning Florida Marlins, missed out with 63.9 percent.

Sheffield's possible elevation to the hall had been under scrutiny due to his links to baseball's steroid scandal, which rocked the sport in the early 2000s.

Sheffield was named in a 2007 report headed by former US Senator George Mitchell as having obtained and used steroids -- a claim Sheffield has always denied.

M.A.Vaz--PC