Posted on 01/09/2007 11:14:51 AM PST by mainepatsfan
Gwynn, Ripken elected to Hall of Fame
ESPN.com news services
NEW YORK -- Mark McGwire fell far short in his first try for the Hall of Fame, picked by 23.5 percent of voters while Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. easily gained baseball's highest honor.
Tarnished by accusations of steroid use, McGwire appeared on 128 of a record 545 ballots in voting released Tuesday by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
Ripken was picked by 537 voters, appearing on 98.5 percent of ballots, falling just short of the record percentage of 98.84 set by Tom Seaver when he was selected on 425 of 430 ballots in 1992.
Gwynn was just behind with 532 votes, 97.6 percent.
Goose Gossage was third with 71.2 percent of the vote, falling just short of the 75 percent needed.
The induction will take place July 29 in Cooperstown.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...
Heck how many pitchers have been denied the MVP because some writers don't believe they should be eligible?
The facts are Mark McGwire is being puniched because of SUSPECTED activity and Guilt by Association.
The facts : Mark McGwire never failed a drug test, Mark McGwire never broke any MLB Policy (THERE WAS NONE).
Was MM using steroids - probably, are his records tainted - Probably. But last I heard you were INNOCENT until proven guilty -- and in that case PROBABLY does not cut it.
Unfortunately, until he is convicted or a positive test shows up, I have to also consider BARROIDS in that same vein...however I am willing to bet right now Barry gets in first ballot with ease.
He's taking the beating because he was the first one of that group to come before the voters.
I actually lean towards that position myself. What rules did McGwire actually break? Sure he looked bad in front of the Senate Hearings, but is that enough to keep him out?
Yes.
However, 10 years ago we knew Mark McGwire was a Hall of Famer. Opps.
I doubt either will get in, but if one does it's obviously Rose, whose offense was much more minor than Jackson's.
I suspect Mr. Ladewski has never gotten a good look at Tony Gwynn! I'm pretty confident the man did not use steroids. I'm not sure he even worked out!
We're not talking about a court of law here. This is a private organization's award, and if the people doling it out don't want to give it to somebody whose achievements they are pretty sure came from a needle, it's their call and quite a reasonable one.
I think they'll both be in eventually. I don't think if Jackson is inducted suddenly we'll have players taking money to throw World Series games again.
If that is the case then Barry Bonds better not even get a SNIFF of the place. Want to place any bets on that happening?
The best we could possibly hope for is him not getting in on the first ballot.
I doubt he'll get in either, and he certainly wouldn't get my vote if I had one.
Why don`t they have a seperate steroid hall of fame? Problem solved.
...imagine if he was trying to win!
I don't believe he committed one error in that series as well.
Its really a shame he was involved in that fiasco...he was a truly great all around ball player.
It's odd going to HOF's record room and seeing Rose and Jackson's pictures but of course their plaques aren't in the hall itself.
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