McGwire, Canseco on Hall of Fame ballot

[trumad]

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.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15921166/

[Reverend_Smitty]

1. Tony Gwynn and Ripken should be no-doubters...

but I think McGwire and Canseco will be tough sells because of all the steroids...it will be an interesting precedent for Bonds in a few years

[Bluzmann57]

2. My thought? I believe McGwire will make it

But not on this ballot. Gwynn and Ripken, however, are sure fire locks. If not, there needs to be a revamping of the voting process. If nothing else, Gwynn and Ripken deserve it for playing their entire careers with one team. And both were hometown teams at that.

[tcfrogs]

3. Now that's a silly reason, Bluzmann

Gwynn & Ripken are overwhelmingly qualified for the Hall. Just because they played for the same team for their entire career should make no difference.

Sorry, I like to pick apart reasoning for Hall of Fame arguments.

[Bluzmann57]

6. Well, that ain't the fuckin' reason

They both had great careers and deserve to be in the HoF. But it is cool that they both played their entire careers for their hometown teams. That just doesn't happen anymore. Not sorry. I just like ripping on people who irritate me.

[BOSSHOG]

8. I think it is a plus that they played on the same team

their entire career. Loyalty and unselfishness probably are not criteria for entry into the hall but it is nice to see. The greatest third basemen ever to play the game played his entire career on the same team, Mike Schmidt, despite the knuckleheads he had for "fans."

[tcfrogs]

10. Happy to irritate you

Yeah, it is cool that they may be some of the last to ever play 15+ years for the same team. I was just saying that its not a criteria in and of itself for selection to the Hall.

[Counciltucky]

11. McGwire should make it on the first ballot.

I don't think he will, but I think he should. Gotta agree with Gwynn and Ripken, naturally.

The reason I think McGwire should be elected on the first ballot: Remember four years after the strike, the game still recovering from it all. The night of September 7, 1998. Remember watching him finally break Roger Maris' record -- the unbelievable roar of the crowd, Joe Buck's call, Big Mac hoisting his son in the air, the fun he had with Sosa, that warm butterfly feeling in your stomach. Ignore the steroids and the testimony. Remember the glory of homer #62. Remember how you felt as a baseball fan when you watched that. Then make your decision on whether or not he should join the other greats in Cooperstown.

[devilgrrl]

4. Wonder if the steriod company will be nominated as well...

without them, McGwire & Canseco are nothing.

[Captain Hilts]

5. TG, best hitter since Ted Williams. And for lousy teams too. I know Cal will...

get in on the first ballot, but, to be frank, he should have rested periodically instead of pursuing the streak.

Canseco, what for?

McGuire, no.

[ProfessorGAC]

7. Since Ted, Maybe. But, No Ted

That guy is probably the best all around hitter ever. Gwynn was great, but Williams hit for power too, and didn't strike out much for a guy with over 500 homers.

I once did a time segmentatino analysis of Williams' career. The seasons (parts and whole added together) were compared to the seasons he had just before and just after his return from the two wars. My take is that had he NOT missed all those seasons for WWII and Korea, there would be one truth and another possible:

1) Aaron would not be the all-time home run leader. Ted would have had nearly 44 homers per year times the nearly 800 games he missed. That would have given him another 240 homers and he'd have 760+.

2) He missed out on around 1100 hits. I think he might have stuck around one more year, then, to break Cobb's record, and Pete Rose would not have been the all time hits leader.

So, without the circumstances of war, Williams MIGHT have been both the most prolific hitter and most profound power hitter at the same time. Pretty amazing.
The Professor

[Captain Hilts]

9. Preachin' to the choir, Bro'...

When you think of the time Williams missed because of military service, it's amazing to think of what his numbers might have been.

But the important parallel with Gwynn - aside from the fact that they're both San Diego boys - is they both spent the bulk of their careers on average to lousy teams. It's harder to get a good pitch to hit under those circumstances.

Preach it, baby, preach it!

[MaineDem]

12. I'll be very disappointed if McGwire gets in

Ripken, Gywnn, (both are sure bets, I assume) and Jim Rice are my top picks.