Post by pelicanguy on Jan 10, 2007 12:46:36 GMT -5
Ripken, Gwynn are in
* McGwire whiffs in Hall voting
Ronald Blum, The Associated Press
NEW YORK - Mark McGwire's Hall of Fame bid was met with a rejection as emphatic as his upper-deck home runs.
While the door to Cooperstown swung open wide for Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn on Tuesday, McGwire was picked by less than a quarter of voters -- a result that raises doubts about whether Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa or other sluggers from baseball's steroids era ever will gain entry.
McGwire, whose 583 home runs rank seventh on the career list, appeared on 128 of a record 545 ballots in voting released Tuesday by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
"I hope that as time goes on, that number will increase," Gwynn said. "I hope that one day he will get into the Hall of Fame, because I really believe he deserves it."
The 23.5 percent vote McGwire received represented the first referendum on how history will judge an age when bulked-up players came under suspicion of using performance-enhancing drugs. Baseball didn't ban steroids until after the 2002 season.
"We knew," Gwynn said. "Players knew. Owners knew. Everybody knew, and we didn't say anything about it."
Gwynn, with an infectious laugh and smile, and Ripken, with cool professionalism, were different on and off the field. They both said they knew McGwire would take some attention from their elections, but while Gwynn was open with his opinion on Big Mac, Ripken was guarded.
"I don't think it's my place to actually cast judgment," Ripken said.
Gwynn remembered the way McGwire "was able to really bring a town and a country together" when he hit a record 70 homers in 1998 -- a mark Bonds broke when he hit 73 three years later. Gwynn predicted McGwire eventually will be elected.
Ripken and Gwynn were rarities in the age of free agency, each spending his entire career with one team. They will be inducted during ceremonies July 29 at the Hall along with anyone elected from the Veterans Committee vote, which will be announced Feb. 27.
Ripken, the Baltimore Orioles shortstop who set baseball's ironman record, was picked by 537 voters and appeared on 98.53 percent of ballots to finish with the third-highest percentage behind Tom Seaver (98.84) and Nolan Ryan (98.79).
Gwynn, who won eight batting titles with the San Diego Padres, received 532 votes for 97.61 percent, the seventh-highest ever, also trailing Ty Cobb, George Brett and Hank Aaron.
"All I wanted to hear was, 'You're in,' " Ripken said. "I really didn't get caught up in wanting to be unanimous or wanting to be the most."
Gwynn worried that he might get 100 percent.
"For the last month, I think, that's all I could think about, hoping that I didn't get near that number," he said. "We've never had one, and so I sure didn't want to be that guy who was closest."
Ripken, a 19-time All-Star and two-time AL MVP, played in a major league-record 2,632 consecutive games to break Lou Gehrig's mark of 2,130. He also set a new standard for power-hitting shortstops with 431 home runs and 3,184 hits.
Gwynn, a 15-time All-Star, compiled 3,141 hits and a .338 batting average during his 20-year career with the San Diego Padres. He woke up at 4 a.m. Tuesday, couldn't get back to sleep and was fidgety and nervous before he received the call from Jack O'Connell, the BBWAA secretary-treasurer.
"I broke down right away," Gwynn said. "My wife came over and put an arm around me."
Goose Gossage finished third with 388 votes, falling 21 shy of the necessary 409. His percentage increased from 64.6 to 71.2, putting him in good position to reach the necessary 75 percent next year. The highest percentage for a player who wasn't elected in a later year was 63.4 by Gil Hodges in 1983, his final time on the ballot.
"It kind of feels weird to be that close," Gossage said. "Hopefully, next year will be the year."
* McGwire whiffs in Hall voting
Ronald Blum, The Associated Press
NEW YORK - Mark McGwire's Hall of Fame bid was met with a rejection as emphatic as his upper-deck home runs.
While the door to Cooperstown swung open wide for Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn on Tuesday, McGwire was picked by less than a quarter of voters -- a result that raises doubts about whether Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa or other sluggers from baseball's steroids era ever will gain entry.
McGwire, whose 583 home runs rank seventh on the career list, appeared on 128 of a record 545 ballots in voting released Tuesday by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
"I hope that as time goes on, that number will increase," Gwynn said. "I hope that one day he will get into the Hall of Fame, because I really believe he deserves it."
The 23.5 percent vote McGwire received represented the first referendum on how history will judge an age when bulked-up players came under suspicion of using performance-enhancing drugs. Baseball didn't ban steroids until after the 2002 season.
"We knew," Gwynn said. "Players knew. Owners knew. Everybody knew, and we didn't say anything about it."
Gwynn, with an infectious laugh and smile, and Ripken, with cool professionalism, were different on and off the field. They both said they knew McGwire would take some attention from their elections, but while Gwynn was open with his opinion on Big Mac, Ripken was guarded.
"I don't think it's my place to actually cast judgment," Ripken said.
Gwynn remembered the way McGwire "was able to really bring a town and a country together" when he hit a record 70 homers in 1998 -- a mark Bonds broke when he hit 73 three years later. Gwynn predicted McGwire eventually will be elected.
Ripken and Gwynn were rarities in the age of free agency, each spending his entire career with one team. They will be inducted during ceremonies July 29 at the Hall along with anyone elected from the Veterans Committee vote, which will be announced Feb. 27.
Ripken, the Baltimore Orioles shortstop who set baseball's ironman record, was picked by 537 voters and appeared on 98.53 percent of ballots to finish with the third-highest percentage behind Tom Seaver (98.84) and Nolan Ryan (98.79).
Gwynn, who won eight batting titles with the San Diego Padres, received 532 votes for 97.61 percent, the seventh-highest ever, also trailing Ty Cobb, George Brett and Hank Aaron.
"All I wanted to hear was, 'You're in,' " Ripken said. "I really didn't get caught up in wanting to be unanimous or wanting to be the most."
Gwynn worried that he might get 100 percent.
"For the last month, I think, that's all I could think about, hoping that I didn't get near that number," he said. "We've never had one, and so I sure didn't want to be that guy who was closest."
Ripken, a 19-time All-Star and two-time AL MVP, played in a major league-record 2,632 consecutive games to break Lou Gehrig's mark of 2,130. He also set a new standard for power-hitting shortstops with 431 home runs and 3,184 hits.
Gwynn, a 15-time All-Star, compiled 3,141 hits and a .338 batting average during his 20-year career with the San Diego Padres. He woke up at 4 a.m. Tuesday, couldn't get back to sleep and was fidgety and nervous before he received the call from Jack O'Connell, the BBWAA secretary-treasurer.
"I broke down right away," Gwynn said. "My wife came over and put an arm around me."
Goose Gossage finished third with 388 votes, falling 21 shy of the necessary 409. His percentage increased from 64.6 to 71.2, putting him in good position to reach the necessary 75 percent next year. The highest percentage for a player who wasn't elected in a later year was 63.4 by Gil Hodges in 1983, his final time on the ballot.
"It kind of feels weird to be that close," Gossage said. "Hopefully, next year will be the year."