For Rich “Goose Gossage,” there was rejection, his gradual climb to immortality painfully short again. For Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn, there is celebration, the pair enshrined together today in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Gossage came up just short in his eighth bid, garnering 71.2 percent of the vote, just shy of the 75 percent required for election. Ripken (98.5 percent) and Gwynn (97.6) easily received their Hall pass, their dominance defining an election long overshadowed by Mark McGwire’s candidacy.
Burdened by allegations that he used performance-enhancing drugs, which he declined to deny or address in front of congress, McGwire received just 23.5 percent of the vote.
Ripken is one of only eight players to eclipse 400 home runs and 3,000 hits. He is credited for revolutionizing the shortstop position, debunking the stereotype that a big player could not play in the middle infield. Gwynn, whose eight National League batting titles are tied for most in National League history, finished his career with a .338 average and .388 on-base percentage.
McGwire’s dismal showing raises doubts about whether he will ever get elected – players can appear on the BBWAA ballot for 15 years – and whether the shadow of steroids will cost Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa and Rafael Palmeiro places in Cooperstown.
Jose Canseco, on the ballot for the first time, received six votes, well below the 5 percent threshold needed to stay on future ballots. In his book two years ago, Canseco accused McGwire and others of using steroids. The book’s publication was quickly followed by a congressional hearing on steroids during which McGwire evaded questions, saying: “I’m not here to talk about the past.” Harold Baines, who received 29 votes, reached the 5 percent threshold. Bret Saberhagen got seven votes in his first appearance on the ballot and Ken Caminiti, who admitted using steroids during his career and died in 2004, received two.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
