2007 Hall of Fame Ballot Released (let the McGwire controversy begin)

[savafan]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...l/4362090.html

NEW YORK — Mark McGwire, Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. headline the first-time candidates on the 2007 baseball writers' Hall of Fame ballot released Monday, sure to spark debate on Big Mac's place in history as the steroid era comes under renewed scrutiny.

Jose Canseco, whose book last year led to a congressional hearing on steroid use in baseball, also is on the ballot for the first time. Canseco said he used steroids along with McGwire when they were teammates.

McGwire denied using illegal performance-enhancing substances, but when he appeared before a congressional committee, he evaded questions. "I'm not here to talk about the past," was his repeated response.

McGwire finished his career with 583 home runs, seventh in baseball history while Canseco, a former MVP, is 30th at 462. Dave Kingman, 34th with 442, has the most home runs for a player who has been on the Hall of Fame ballot and was not elected.

Gwynn, an eight-time batting champion with San Diego, and Ripken, a two-time MVP with Baltimore, are considered likely to gain election on the first ballot. Ripken played in 2,632 consecutive games, breaking Lou Gehrig's record.

Bret Saberhagen, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, and former MVP Ken Caminiti also are among 17 players on the ballot for the first time along with Harold Baines, Dante Bichette, Bobby Bonilla, Scott Brosius, Jay Buhner, Eric Davis, Tony Fernandez, Wally Joyner, Paul O'Neill, Devon White and Bobby Witt.

Jim Rice, who was 53 votes short of election last year, heads the 15 holdovers. Rich Gossage finished one vote behind Rice.

Reporters who have been in the BBWAA for 10 or more consecutive years are eligible to vote, and the totals will be announced Jan. 9.

The complete ballot:

Harold Baines, Albert Belle, Dante Bichette, Bert Blyleven, Bobby Bonilla, Scott Brosius, Jay Buhner, Ken Caminiti, Jose Canseco, Dave Concepcion, Eric Davis, Andre Dawson, Tony Fernandez, Steve Garvey, Rich "Goose" Gossage, Tony Gwynn, Orel Hershiser, Tommy John, Wally Joyner, Don Mattingly, Mark McGwire, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, Paul O'Neill, Dave Parker, Jim Rice, Cal Ripken Jr., Bret Saberhagen, Lee Smith, Alan Trammell, Devon White, Bobby Witt.

[Slyder]

Bert "Be home" Blyleven
Goose
Eric
Dave Concepcion
Paul O'Neil
Cal
Lee Smith

would be my picks.

[terminator]

I'd vote for him. We don't know what he did or didn't take. At the time, it wasn't a violation of league rules and there was no testing. He obviously had a lot of natural talent anyway since steroids don't magically make you able to hit a baseball. Some of his historical predecessors were taking greenies and we don't hold that against them.

(Anyway, Maybe Dunn should talk to him. Up until age 27, his career numbers look very similar to Dunn's.)

[RedsBaron]

Gossage, Gwynn and Ripken are the three guys I would definitely vote for.
There are a host of guys on that ballot that I would seriously consider, including Belle, Blyleven, Concepcion, Dawson, John, Mattingly, Morris, Murphy, Parker, Rice, Smith and Trammell. In each case, there is already one or more players or pitchers in the Hall of Fame who was less deserving of enshrinement than each of those guys are--not that that is enough to necessarily justify inducting them into the HOF, but it is enough to at least give each of them a look.
McGwire? Were I allowed to vote, I would refuse to elect on the first ballot anybody whom I suspected of having used steroids or other chemical enhancements. I'd still have another 14 chances to reconsider, but not on the first ballot. Wait your turn, McGwire.

[Red in Chicago]

Originally Posted by RedsBaron

McGwire? Were I allowed to vote, I would refuse to elect on the first ballot anybody whom I suspected of having used steroids or other chemical enhancements. I'd still have another 14 chances to reconsider, but not on the first ballot. Wait your turn, McGwire.

i absolutely agree with keeping mcgwire off the first year ballot...while some say your either a hall of famer or you're not, there is something special about making it your first year and i don't think he deserves this...

my ballot would be:
gwynn
ripken
concepcion
trammell
dawson

[Jpup]

McGwire
Ripken
Gwynn
Dawson
Gossage
John
Smith

[redsfanmia]

Originally Posted by Red in Chicago

i absolutely agree with keeping mcgwire off the first year ballot...while some say your either a hall of famer or you're not, there is something special about making it your first year and i don't think he deserves this...

my ballot would be:
gwynn
ripken
concepcion
trammell
dawson

Either McGwire is a hall of famer or not, whats the point of not voting him in on the first ballot. Personally I dont think he merits being in the hall, he was basically a one trick pony.

[registerthis]

Originally Posted by terminator

I'd vote for him. We don't know what he did or didn't take. At the time, it wasn't a violation of league rules and there was no testing.

...and HoF ballot voting isn't coupled with any rule that states players who technically broke no rules must be voted for, all other things being equal. HoF voters may vote for whomever on the list they feel is deserving, for whatever reason they deem acceptable.

Somehow I doubt that most people's feelings about McGwire will be tempered with the "he didn't technically break any rules" line of thought. My guess is, most people view McGwire as a steroid user. And most people view that as a negative attribute.

[KoryMac5]

Originally Posted by registerthis

...and HoF ballot voting isn't coupled with any rule that states players who technically broke no rules must be voted for, all other things being equal. HoF voters may vote for whomever on the list they feel is deserving, for whatever reason they deem acceptable.

Somehow I doubt that most people's feelings about McGwire will be tempered with the "he didn't technically break any rules" line of thought. My guess is, most people view McGwire as a steroid user. And most people view that as a negative attribute.

If that's the case can we remove Don Sutton from enshrinement.

[Redny]

Ripken, Gwynn, Gossage, John, Smith, Concepcion

[Aceking]

Andre Dawson
Cal Ripken
Gwynn

[Aceking]

Wow, can I ask Slyder why he passed on Gwynn?

[Slyder]

Originally Posted by Aceking

Wow, can I ask Slyder why he passed on Gwynn?

He played in a lot of games, but by doing so he played with a lot of nagging injuries that kept his numbers very pedestrian. Plus a lot of that I just wanted a 'Homer' post and vote all the Reds in.

Honestly though my prediction:
Gwynn
Rice
Blyleven
Cal (on the back of his games played streak)

After this I think there will be enough splitting of votes that there wont be a fifth member inducted. But if there is I think it comes down to Goose and Dawson.
I think enough people will leave McGwire off their ballots because of the "questions" to leave him out in the cold this year.

[redsfanmia]

Ripken=overrated IMO

[Number_Fourteen]

Originally Posted by redsfanmia

Ripken=overrated IMO

The Streak=overrated