The MLB Hall of Fame ballot has been announced for 2007. A couple of slam dunks in Gwynn and Ripken, Jr. The name that jumps off the ballot is McGwire. Whadd’ya think, does he have a shot? Remember, the steroid allegations against him never been validated. All we have is hearsay and his general evasiveness in front of that congressional committee a year or two ago. But I don’t think it matters much. In the court of public opinion, he’s guilty and that’s all that matters. My opinion: McGwire doesn’t make it on this ballot, but possibly next year. If he doesn’t make it, here’s hoping this is the year that Jim Rice is finally enshrined.
In other news, is it really necessary to include Bobby Witt on the ballot? Please.
already & not yet 
Not this year, but slowly he will gain votes, I think he’s in by year 5. Do you honestly think he is clean?
No way is he clean. I was just pointing out that nothing has been proven…at least not yet.But here’s the thing: how can you penalize one or two guys when it’s becoming more and more apparent that the entire industry was corrupt for about 10-15 years? How can voters legitimately keep guys like Bonds, McGwire, Palmeiro out of the Hall? They cheated, sure, but they were also facing pitchers that were juicing, too. On top of that, the Hall is filled with all kinds of unsavory characters who would cheat, steal, lie – whatever to get a competitve advantage. The whole thing is just a mess.But to answer your question, no I don’t think McGwire is clean.
I think nobody should get in before Pete Rose does.
That ain’t happenin’ anytime soon. Nor should it. I don’t care if he ever gets in.
I wouldn’t vote Rose in on account of that nasty haircut he has going on.
I don’t either. I was just trying to get things stirred up.
So Jose Canseco is on the ballot as well. He’s admitted, so does that give him a better shot at getting voted in?As long as Don Mattingly stays on the ballot, I’m happy. Each year he seems to get right at around 60 votes.Who out of the 07 nominees will get into the Hall (at any point)? My thoughts are: Gwynn, Saberhagen, Paul O’Neil, Cal Ripken Jr., and maybe Bonilla.
If Bonilla gets in, then I should get in too.
The only shoe-ins are Ripken and Gwynn. I really think McGwire gets in at some point, along with Rice and Gossage. I don’t think the others have a chance, which is weird considering that Lee Smith was baseball’s all time saves leader until Hoffman passed him this year. If I could vote any of the other guys in, it’d be Trammell. He was a dominant shortstop for more than a decade in an era when middle infielders weren’t bopping 40 bombs a season.