Cobi Jones, who grew up in Westlake Village and spent virtually his entire career with his hometown Galaxy, was elected to the hall in the first year his name was on the ballot.

His full biography is here.

Jones left the Galaxy coaching staff this year to join the New York Cosmos.

Also named to the hall: Eddie Pope, an anchor of the U.S. defense for nearly a decade and winner of three MLS Cups with D.C. United and Earnie Stewart, a three-time World Cup veteran.

From the press release:

Jones, eligible on the player ballot for the first time, was named on 87 percent of the ballots, while Pope earned a spot on 74 percent of the ballots and Stewart on 71 percent of the ballots.

Joining the players in this year’s class are Bruce Murray, a midfielder and forward who was one of the leading stars of the U.S. Men’s National Team in the late 1980s and early 1990s who was elected on the Veteran ballot, and former U.S. Men’s National Team and Kansas City Wizards head coach Bob Gansler, who was elected on the Builder ballot.

The Class of 2011 induction ceremony will likely be scheduled for this summer.