yagsy
12-01-2006, 03:47 PM
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/padres/20061128-9999-1s28hall.html
Chris Jenkins
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
November 28, 2006
In one sense, Tony Gwynn's five-year wait is over. In another, it's just beginning.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/padres/images/061128gwynn.jpg
PEGGY PEATTIE / Union-Tribune photo
“Everybody says it's such a foregone conclusion, but I can't think that way, and I've thought about it a lot,” says Tony Gwynn, whose name is on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released Monday.
The requisite half-decade between a player's retirement and his nomination for the Baseball Hall of Fame has passed for Gwynn, as evidenced by the appearance of the former Padres great's name on the 2006 ballot for Cooperstown enshrinement, released yesterday.
“Everybody says it's such a foregone conclusion, but I can't think that way, and I've thought about it a lot,” said Gwynn, who tried to maintain business as usual yesterday as San Diego State's baseball coach. “I appreciate people thinking that, but it's hard to count on something when you're not already in, especially when you look at who hasn't gotten in yet. Goose Gossage. Andre Dawson. Jim Rice. Look at those names. So you just never know.”
Absolutely zero doubt exists anywhere that Gwynn, along with fellow first-time nominee Cal Ripken Jr., will be voted overwhelmingly into Cooperstown. The hundreds of ballots are to be filed by Dec. 31 and results announced Jan. 9 by both the Hall of Fame and the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Just as surely, the 2006 vote will be shrouded in debate and controversy, because ex-slugger Mark McGwire also was among the 17 now eligible for the ballot. In an Associated Press survey of about 20 percent of eligible voters released yesterday, only one in four who gave an opinion said they planned to vote for McGwire this year. That's far short of the 75 percent necessary to gain induction.
McGwire's prodigious feats of strength were certainly legendary, but after he retired in 2001 with what then was the single-season record of 70 home runs and a career total of 583, the source of his power came under serious question.
To be sure, too, he didn't handle those questions the way he handled fastballs down the middle. McGwire's chances of easy enshrinement were dampened enough when he and Sammy Sosa – the two players credited with rekindling national interest in baseball with their home run chase of 1998 – were summoned to appear before a congressional committee on steroid use in sports.
Cooperstown seemed to get further and further away with each time a nervous McGwire, asked by the committee whether he used performance-enhancing drugs, repeatedly answered: “I'm not here to talk about the past.”
Also on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time is Jose Canseco, a former McGwire teammate and panelmate who blew the whistle on steroid use in baseball, including his own.
“I'm sure that's going to become the story,” Gwynn said. “It's already a huge topic, the first time writers get to vote on guys with question marks over them. Did they or didn't they (use steroids)?”
When it comes to Gwynn and Ripken, however, the only real wonder is how great the margin of victory. Widespread presumption is that both will receive at least 90 percent of the votes.
Beyond his impressive statistics and Gold Gloves, Ripken is most cited for setting the all-time record for consecutive games played at 2,632. Gwynn was a 15-time All-Star who won eight batting titles, tying Honus Wagner for the most by a National League hitter. Perhaps only the work stoppage of 1994 kept Gwynn, who never batted below .309 in a full season, from becoming the first .400 hitter since Ted Williams.
“It's awesome to be on the ballot with Cal,” Gwynn said. “It's awesome to be on the ballot, period.”
Chris Jenkins
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
November 28, 2006
In one sense, Tony Gwynn's five-year wait is over. In another, it's just beginning.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/padres/images/061128gwynn.jpg
PEGGY PEATTIE / Union-Tribune photo
“Everybody says it's such a foregone conclusion, but I can't think that way, and I've thought about it a lot,” says Tony Gwynn, whose name is on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot released Monday.
The requisite half-decade between a player's retirement and his nomination for the Baseball Hall of Fame has passed for Gwynn, as evidenced by the appearance of the former Padres great's name on the 2006 ballot for Cooperstown enshrinement, released yesterday.
“Everybody says it's such a foregone conclusion, but I can't think that way, and I've thought about it a lot,” said Gwynn, who tried to maintain business as usual yesterday as San Diego State's baseball coach. “I appreciate people thinking that, but it's hard to count on something when you're not already in, especially when you look at who hasn't gotten in yet. Goose Gossage. Andre Dawson. Jim Rice. Look at those names. So you just never know.”
Absolutely zero doubt exists anywhere that Gwynn, along with fellow first-time nominee Cal Ripken Jr., will be voted overwhelmingly into Cooperstown. The hundreds of ballots are to be filed by Dec. 31 and results announced Jan. 9 by both the Hall of Fame and the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Just as surely, the 2006 vote will be shrouded in debate and controversy, because ex-slugger Mark McGwire also was among the 17 now eligible for the ballot. In an Associated Press survey of about 20 percent of eligible voters released yesterday, only one in four who gave an opinion said they planned to vote for McGwire this year. That's far short of the 75 percent necessary to gain induction.
McGwire's prodigious feats of strength were certainly legendary, but after he retired in 2001 with what then was the single-season record of 70 home runs and a career total of 583, the source of his power came under serious question.
To be sure, too, he didn't handle those questions the way he handled fastballs down the middle. McGwire's chances of easy enshrinement were dampened enough when he and Sammy Sosa – the two players credited with rekindling national interest in baseball with their home run chase of 1998 – were summoned to appear before a congressional committee on steroid use in sports.
Cooperstown seemed to get further and further away with each time a nervous McGwire, asked by the committee whether he used performance-enhancing drugs, repeatedly answered: “I'm not here to talk about the past.”
Also on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time is Jose Canseco, a former McGwire teammate and panelmate who blew the whistle on steroid use in baseball, including his own.
“I'm sure that's going to become the story,” Gwynn said. “It's already a huge topic, the first time writers get to vote on guys with question marks over them. Did they or didn't they (use steroids)?”
When it comes to Gwynn and Ripken, however, the only real wonder is how great the margin of victory. Widespread presumption is that both will receive at least 90 percent of the votes.
Beyond his impressive statistics and Gold Gloves, Ripken is most cited for setting the all-time record for consecutive games played at 2,632. Gwynn was a 15-time All-Star who won eight batting titles, tying Honus Wagner for the most by a National League hitter. Perhaps only the work stoppage of 1994 kept Gwynn, who never batted below .309 in a full season, from becoming the first .400 hitter since Ted Williams.
“It's awesome to be on the ballot with Cal,” Gwynn said. “It's awesome to be on the ballot, period.”