After being eligible for election to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, Mark McGuire, the eighth overall in the home run career total has not been blessed so far. The grade to be achieved is seventy-five percent. Since his eligibility, he has received no higher than 24% of the votes cast by the Baseball Writers of America.

There a differing views on the matter. Some claim he has not been punished for refusing to clarify the steroid imbroglio that he has been publicly indicted. Others say that he was an average player throughout his career, and rewarding him for hitting homeruns would not do justice as the cause for his inclusion into the annals of Baseball history. While others say he deserves it for breaking Roger Maris’ long time record and providing resurgence in the game excited by the home run race. And some others say he has been punished enough already.

The biggest roadblock on his road to Cooperstown is refusal to shed light on the steroids issue besetting baseball. Even his name has been included in former team mate’s tell all book of rampant steroid use. In the official Mitchell report, he was not included in name but there were insinuations of his use. Furthermore, he had previously admitted to have taken a muscle enhancement product called androstenedione. The compounds are easily procured in the market. From this, rumours flew off the plate that this was his way to cloud the issue against him. In 1998, the same was still a legal use substance under US law and MLB. Recently, it has been declared illegal by WADA, the NFL and the IOC.

Last 2005, he was subpoenaed by the House Sub-Committee on Government Reform to shed light on the steroid imbroglio that MLB was facing. Also with him was Jose Canseco, who had named him in the tell-all book, and other baseball players and executives. In the full dress investigation, he declined to answer questions. Instead in a prepared statement, he said that point blank questions on steroid use will not ferret out the truth. If the player answers in the negative, he would simply not be believed.

If he admits to use, then he opens himself up to public enmity and endless governmental inquiry. He wanted to protect his family, his friends and former teammates, and his legacy. He quoted the constitution saying that he was innocent until proven otherwise. When asked if he was pleading the fifth, his response was that he wanted to be positive about the future.

These statements have clearly cost him his ticket to Cooperstown. Though there is no litigation pending against him, he has fallen out of favour from the voting elite. He was voted to the All Century tem owing largely to the power he had swinging the bat, something he lacked throughout his career. This power emerged when he was nearing the end of his career. But as the steroid saga unfolds, with it McGuire’s chances unfold also.

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