Updated at 5:09 p.m. Jan. 18, 2017:

Legendary San Diego Padres closer Trevor Hoffman was fourth of the ballot, but missed being elected Wednesday to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

Trevor Hoffman, pitching for the San Diego Padres. Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Trevor Hoffman, pitching for the San Diego Padres. Photo via Wikimedia Commons

A Hall of Fame online vote tracker compiled by Oakland resident and baseball fan Ryan Thibodaux had shown Hoffman’s name appearing on 73 percent of the known submitted ballots, which accounted for a little over half the total.

Hoffman’s name ended up on 74 percent of the 440 ballots cast, but needed 75 percent to gain induction.

This year’s inductees will be Astros first-baseman Jeff Bagwell, Expos and White Sox outfielder Tim Raines, and Rangers catcher Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez. Ceremonies are set for July 30.

Hoffman released a statement in which he congratulated the trio.

“All three men exemplify what it means to be a Hall of Famer in our game,” Hoffman said.

“For me, falling short of this class is disappointing, but I don’t take being on the ballot lightly,” he said. “I’m grateful for every vote and I am truly humbled to have come so close. I hope to one day soon share a Hall of Fame celebration with my family, friends, teammates and all of San Diego.”

The Padres issued a statement, in which team officials congratulated the 2017 inductees but said Hoffman should have made it a quartet.

“Few players have ever performed the task set in front of them as successfully and as consistently as Trevor did,” according to the team’s statement. “On top of that, Trevor has the unanimous respect and love of former teammates, coaches and fans. He is a true Hall of Famer, and we look forward to the day very soon when we will see him enshrined in Cooperstown.”

NBC San Diego’s Derek Togerson was disgusted, tweeting: “To all the writers who voted for Trevor Hoffman last year but NOT this year: give up your HOF vote. You don’t deserve it.”

The Padres-centric Gaslamp Ball page on Facebook said: “The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is stupid and we hate it.”

Retired Padres beat writer Bill Center of the Union-Tribune, a voting member of Baseball Writers of America, tweeted: “I am so disappointed for Trevor Hoffman. He did it right. He did it for a long time. He did it like no one else ever had.”

Other 2017 Hall of Fame voters with San Diego connections include Barry Bloom, Gary Hyvonen, John Maffei and Jay Paris.

Last year, Hoffman received 67.3 percent in his first year on the ballot.

“It’s going to be a couple of percentage points either way,” Hoffman told MLB.com recently. “It’s going to be a little nerve-racking, no doubt about it.”

For years, relief pitchers were largely ignored by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America, with former Padre Rollie Fingers among the exceptions. Former Cub and Cardinal Bruce Sutter in 2006 became the first inductee as a pitcher who never started a game on the mound.

Hoffman, and Expos and Angels outfielder Vladimir Guerrero, were both over 70 percent, according to his figures.

“Hoffman gets my vote because his 601 career saves are second only to (Mariano) Rivera’s 652,” wrote Hal Bodley of MLB.com. Rivera was the longtime Yankees closer who picked up three saves in the 1998 World Series against the Padres — and becomes eligible for the Hall of Fame next year.

“In his second year of eligibility, Hoffman appeared on 327 of 442 Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballots,” noted The San Diego Union-Tribune. “Jeff Bagwell (86.2 percent), Tim Raines (86 percent) and Ivan Rodriguez (76 percent) comprise the 2017 class…. They were in their seventh, 10th and first years on the ballot, respectively.”

Most baseball observers think Hoffman will make it in due course, but if he doesn’t next year, things will get tougher in 2019 when ex-Yankees’ closer Mariano Rivera appears on the ballot for the first time.

San Diego fans who casually follow baseball will remember Rivera for his three saves in the 1998 World Series against the Padres. He’s baseball’s all-time saves leader with 652, after surpassing Hoffman’s total of 601.

— City News Service contributed to this report.