Palmeiro doesn't get in simply due to the fact that he failed a steroids test right before his retirement, when it was officially against baseball's substance abuse policy. Bonds probably eeks in on a later ballot due to breaking Hank Aaron's record, which should happen in a few months. As for Big Mac, I say he gets in. Sure, he used performance enhancing drugs when he played. He did it before baseball enacted rules against such stuff, but if he would have just come clean at that Senate hearing he wouldn't even have to worry about getting in. My question is, if Big Mac and Bonds get in, how come Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson don't get in? BTW - Cal Ripken, Jr. couldn't shine Lou Gehrig's shoes. They're not even in the same zip code when it comes to caliber of ball player.

If Bonds and Palmeiro get in, then McGwire should. It will take time.

So....... You think McGuire should get in?

Cal Ripken, Jr. & Tony Gwynn were elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Ripken got 98.53% of the 545 ballots; Gwynn got 97.6%. Ripken broke Lou Gehrig's streak by playing in 2,632 consecutive games. Gwynn won 8 batting titles. Both got over 3,000 hits. The disappointment was Mark McGwire. McGwire hit 70 home runs in 1998 and finished with 583 but only got 23.5% of the votes because of suspected steroid use and his reluctance to talk before Congress. The Baseball Writers of America do the voting. 75% of their votes are required for election. McGwire did get enough to remain on the ballot. A candidate may stay on the ballot up to 15 years. Ripken & Gwynn will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, on July 29.

New York Yankees jimcolyer.com