Mark McGwire, Tommy John in virtual tie
Posted on January 9th, 2007 – 2:38 PMBy Michael Rand
And so, the least dramatic story we can remember has come to a conclusion. Will Mark McGwire make the Hall of Fame? Of course not. And it wasn’t even close. Big Mac appeared on 128 ballots — a paltry 23.5 percent, not even one third of the 75 percent needed for election. He gained three more votes that Tommy John, a very nice pitcher and an even better surgery. Cal Ripken was left off of eight ballots, which is just plain silly. Tony Gwynn was left off of 13. They are the only two who made it. Goose Gossage (71.2 percent) wins the Cooperstown Price is Right award for the closest percentage without going over. All in all, exactly what people thought would happen. If you think McGwire is being treated shabbily, we’re willing to listen to your argument. But it better be good. Because you’re wrong.
187 Responses to "Mark McGwire, Tommy John in virtual tie"
Anyone know how Blyleven did? And did he make sure he wasn’t on live television when he found out?
I’d love to make a contrarian argument in McGwire’s defense just to stir the pot, but I just don’t have it in me. Using the “we just don’t have definitive proof” standard would be great if the guy hadn’t morphed into Backne McAndropants over the years. Sometimes, you just have to believe what you see. It’s so damnably obvious he was juicing that people find Jose Canseco a credible eyewitness.
Blyleven wasn’t close. About 47 percent. He has to do the ballot all over again because … no, we’re not going there.
Happy to see Marky Mark fail. More importantly, what will it take for there to be a unanimous ballot? I realize there are sportswriters who are still pissed that someone like Aaron or Mays or even Ruth didn’t get 100 percent. But seriously, get over it. The nihilist from the Chicago paper who sent the blank ballot should have his voting privledge revoked (just like anyone who voted for Lyndon Larouche in the past presidential election).
Oh, come on Randball. There are literally zillions of stories with less drama than this one. Like the response of local rubes when denied their chance to watch Janel McCarville score four points a game for the Lynx next year, for instance. You know that far too many Minnesotans would rather watch of team of hometown losers than a team that actaully has a chance to win. The McGwire story had at least some drama, like would he or would he not do better than Tommy John…
I say keep McGwire out by cutting the spending it would take to make his trophy. Hell, that tactic might work to stop the town drunk from Texas who has alot more dirt on his hands than McGwire
Oh, Paul Paulos, you would finally begin to make so much more sense if you would switch from pork to turkey bacon. As it stands, there is clearly too much grease and cholesterol clogging up your beautiful brain.
Probably Rocket, and my wife tries to slip that turkey bacon in sometimes if I’m watching a game (and it is good. I will admit !), but the very thought and taste and touch and smell (ok, no touch) of pork, sweet lovable pork links !! Yowsah ! What can I say. There’s no comparison. It’s like comparing Diet Coke to Hi-Octane Coke. Turkey is good …on Thanksgiving. Otherwise, bring on the links
Did McGwire break any rules?
Is it illegal if it isn’t against the rules?
I digress.
Dopers Suck.
…
Why doesn’t MLB follow WADA procedures?
I bet it is because over 50% of the players would recieve a 2yr ban. In the end this is why Baseball and Softball are no longer in the olympics…failure to agree to the most stringent testing imaginable.
What about Bonds in about 6 years? It is sad that Bud Selig and the Union did nothing until Congress got involved. Before that all was legal even if it was not. I totally do not agree with what McGwyre did but come on people….do not tell me there are no pro football players in their hall of shame who did steriods. What is the difference?
Chili is spot on about the NFL. For all of MLB’s sins, it’s amazing to me how much hell they catch for ‘roids in relation to the NFL (see also: Merriman, Shawne).
Why is it ridiculous that Ripken was left off 8 ballots? He was most years a very good player, and had a couple of MVPs. But he also had a couple years where he had the streak, and nothing else, and was probably a detriment to the team.
And keep in mind, as one of the Yahoo! sports schmucks (that I read for some reason pointed out), no one in the history of the game has been voted in unanimously. Not Ruth, Mantle, Cy Young, or even Phil Rizzuto. Does Ripken deserve the unprecedented honor of being the first?
There’s just no good reason for Ripken to be left off a ballot. Same could be said for a lot of guys (i.e. Ruth, Aaron, etc.). It just goes to show there are some petty voters out there.
If he’s been made eligible — i.e., he’s on the ballot — his candidacy should be judged on his numbers. And his numbers say he’s HOF-worthy.
Pete Rose isn’t eligible, and, therefore, isn’t in the HOF *only* because the Commissioner conducted an investigation and determined he cheated. He had his day in court and was judged to be guilty. Same goes for Joe Jackson.
If and when McGwire is found to be guilty of more than keeping his mouth shut, he deserves to be judged on his numbers. Was there an asterisk next to his name on the top of the home-runs-in-a-season list? Is there an asterisk next to Bonds’ name? Is there anything in the MLB record book that indicates his numbers should be evaluated differently from any other players’ numbers?
Until there is — which is to say, until something more relevant than the flimsy court of public opinion deems it so — PLEASE drop the sanctimonious boo-hoo-he’s-a-cheater crap.
Where were all of these righteous members of the BBWAA back during the McGwire-Sosa chase? Were they writing stories condemning each of his home runs as fraudulent?
Gee, I sure don’t remember it that way.
That was a fun argument, Sassbottom. It’s just too bad that you’re wrong.
Rand he is not wrong. NFL has plenty of steriod abusers in their hall of shame. All I gotta say is one name and one name only. Lawrence Taylor. If rightous(sp) baseball (been berry berry good to me) keeps out drug abusers like McGwyre yet vote in LT….I just see hyprocrocity(sp) at its best!
Now Pete bet on baseball and affected outcome of games by the players he would or would not use so he should not be in the HOF.
Why not go medieval and bleed every suspected athlete ? That could be a sport unto itself with all the denial and screaming !!! But that would take care of any doubts. Who cares about personal rights. This is Busch time !!
Steroids in football are that sport’s problem (and a big one, for sure). The argument doesn’t carry over to baseball, which is doing the right thing.
Doing the right thing by doing what? Turning their back on drug users in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s? I disagree. They are doing the right thing because of Congress. Without McCain and the rest they would still be in denial which is not a river in Egypt.
Folks, clearly this debate is tearing RandBall to shreds. With our already tenuous sense of community clearly hanging in the balance can we at least agree on one thing? Can we at least agree that turkey bacon tastes good even if it isn’t pork bacon?
MMMMM bacon……….
It’s just a shame though that Bert did not make it. He deserves it more than Goose Gossage just on his 60 shutouts alone.
I took steroids once and my head turned into a pimple. Embarrassing
McGwire: people forget that baseball had no rules against steroids when he played. He wasn’t breaking any rules. Doesn’t this mean something? I think it’s right that McGwire should not be a first ballot hall of famer, but his career says he should get in. But his bad publicity and the media’s failure to criticize major league baseball enough in this will probably keep him out. Amazingly enough, had he gotten in this time, there would be more people upset about that then they would be about the situation in Iraq.
Pete Rose: everyone said “just admit it Pete, and then we’ll consider you for the hall of fame.” Then he admitted it and everyone freaked out. Again, people really don’t look at these things honestly.
The evidence suggests that he never bet against his team and thus, his betting never affected the outcome of games. Some steroid players will get into the HOF, so why not Rose too?
Oh Tom, you had to pull out the old “he never bet against his team” canard.
Rose didn’t bet on his team in every game, though. Think that might make a difference? Might not he be tempted to manage differently in games he did bet on? Allowing players or managers to gamble on games they are involved in throws the whole legitimacy of the sport into question. It’s a far worse sin than what McGwire may or may not have done.
Tom,
Exactly what’s your point ? …that McWire on ‘roids never delberately hit homers to the opposite field ? Just look at the guy ! His jawbone alone gained 25 lbs while he took steroids. Does muscle mass that was gained during that time seem fair to you ? Something doesn’t need to be illegal to be unfair…look at Iraq or the ludicrous man rrunning that show
Did any of you imbeciles consider that Mark McGwire looked waaaay hotter with steroids than without? I didn’t think so.
Diddy,
3/4 of the actresses winning awards on those endless kiss butt award shows had boob jobs too, so what’s your point ? Oh, I get it !!
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