Voting for the best baseball players in this year’s Hall of Fame will not be easy. Aside from the great performances and statistics that these players can brag, issues about steroid use becomes a major factor in their enshrinement in the prestigious HOF. Members of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) are not just after the numbers but they also consider the character of the players.

An example of this is the case of Mark McGwire. He is already on his 5th year in the Hall of Fame ballot but his previous votes are way below the minimum percentage to be qualified in the HOF. A player should at least get 75 percent of the votes to be elected. McGwire admitted to using steroids and human growth hormone last year. Even before his admission, McGwire was already haunted by this issue for several years.

Baseball Players Linked to Steroids

And this year’s list included 2 more baseball players who were linked to steroid use, Rafael Palmeiro and Juan Gonzalez. Palmeiro, who became controversial in his testimony in Congress, is a great contender in the HOF. However, his positive test for steroid stanozolol after a few months of his “I never used Steroids” testimony will definitely affect his chances. Though Palmeiro contends that the steroid found in his system was due to a contaminated vitamin B12 supplement given to him by Miguel Tejada. Nevertheless, he was given 10-game suspension.

Juan Gonzalez, on the other hand, was implicated in the steroid book of Jose Canseco. The steroid whistle blower claimed that he used steroids with Gonzalez. There were also speculations that the two-time AL MVP was on steroids because of his injuries and early retirement from baseball.

Steroid Issues Matters for BBWAA Voters

Members of the BBWAA have already hinted that players involved in steroids will face a hard time getting the required number of votes. Larry Stone of the Seattle Times wrote an article that this year’s HOF will provide them new set of headaches. “I honestly haven’t decided yet how I’m going to handle Palmeiro. I also haven’t decided if I’ll keep voting for Mark McGwire in light of his admission last spring that he used steroids. Two-time MVP Juan Gonzalez is another new name on this ballot who has a link with performance-enhancing drugs,” said Stone. He said that it is a privilege to be part of the HOF but it also gives him an increasing headache.

Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun compiled some of the comments and reactions of fellow sportswriters about the inclusion of these two players.

“It’s less about the steroids than a feeling he was a very good player for a very long time — but not great. I tend to set the bar pretty high on HOF standard of greatness,” said Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register. “Now, the steroid revelations would seem to indicate he was able to be a very good player for a long time because of some chemical assistance. That factors in,” he added.

Bob Dutton of The Kansas City Star said that Palmeiro may not get enough votes in the HOF. He also hinted that he may not vote for Palmeiro but it may still change once he has the ballot. “I think the overall bar for all users and suspected users comes way down once a Bonds or a Clemens gets in. I think voters will have a much tougher time holding Palmeiro [or anyone] to a higher standard if, say, Bonds gets in.” Mark McGwire case is different because many voters see him as a one dimensional player who benefited from using performance enhancing drugs. “The real battle line will be Bonds and Clemens,” he said.

The voting will end on December 31 and the result will be announced in January 5. The induction will be held on July 24 in Cooperstown.

List of Players Eligible in this Year’s Hall of Fame

Returning players:

Robert Alomar (73.7)
Bert Blyleven (74.2)
Jack Morris (52.3)
Barry Larkin (51.6)
Lee Smith (47.3)
Edgar Martinez (36.2)
Tim Raines (30.4)
Mark McGwire (23.7)
Alan Trammell (22.4)
Fred McGriff (21.5)
Don Mattingly (16.1)
Dave Parker (15.2)
Dale Murphy (11.7)
Harold Baines (6.1)

Newcomers:

Carlos Baerga
Kevin Brown
Jeff Bagwell
Bret Boone
John Franco
Marquis Grissom
Charles Johnson
Raul Mondesi
John Olerud
Lenny Harris
Al Leiter
Kirk Rueter
Tino Martinez
Bobby Higginson
B.J. Surhoff
Benito Santiago
Larry Walker
Juan Gonzalez
Rafael Palmeiro

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