Get Our Your Hall of Fame Ballots

It's that time of year again when MLB announces the next class of eligible candidates for the Hall of Fame to be enshrined in Cooperstown next summer. This year, the ballot will contain some first ballot Hall of Famers, one questionable first ballot hall of famer, and a bunch of guys who have been through this before:

• Harold Baines (1)
• Albert Belle (2)
• Dante Bichette (1)
• Bert Blyleven (10)
• Bobby Bonilla (1)
• Scott Brosius (1)
• Jay Buhner (1)
• Ken Caminiti (1)
• Jose Canseco (1)
• Dave Concepcion (14)
• Eric Davis (1)
• Andre Dawson (6)
• Tony Fernandez (1)
• Steve Garvey (15)
• Rich Gossage (8)
• Tony Gwynn (1)
• Orel Hershiser (2)
• Tommy John (13)
• Wally Joyner (1)
• Don Mattingly (7)
• Mark McGwire (1)
• Jack Morris (8)
• Dale Murphy (9)
• Paul O'Neill (1)
• Dave Parker (11)
• Jim Rice (13)
• Cal Ripken (1)
• Bret Saberhagen (1)
• Lee Smith (5)
• Alan Trammell (6)
• Devon White (1)
• Bobby Witt (1)

The number in the parenthesis relate to the number of years on the ballot. You will see that Cal Ripken, Mark McGwire, and Tony Gwynn are appearing for the first time. I think Ripken and Gwynn will both be inducted on the first ballot - easily eclipsing the 75% of the ballot needed to enter the Hall of Fame. I think they're going to be the only ones getting in this year. This is the Hall of Fame we're talking about, not the Hall of the really, really good and the rest really don't cut it and McGwire has other issues that voters will take into account.

McGwire will not reach that milestone, largely because of his implication in the various steroid/andro scandals. Admitted steroid users Jose Canseco and the late Ken Caminiti are also on the ballot for the first time. That's not going to help McGwire either.

UPDATE:
GOP and the City lists who among the candidates actually deserves to be on the ballot. Here's my take: Andre Dawson, Steve Garvey, Rich Gossage, Tony Gwynn, Don Mattingly, Mark McGwire, Jack Morris, Dale Murphy, Cal Ripken Jr., Lee Smith, and Alan Trammell.