The debate over Mark McGwire’s possible induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame is not in full force as ballots for the Class of 2007 have been mailed to voters.
The Associated Press surveyed about 20 percent of eligible voters, and only one in four who gave an opinion plan to vote for McGwire this year. That’s far short of the 75 percent necessary to gain induction.
“There is a clause on the ballot indicating that character should be considered and after his nonperformance at the congressional hearings his character certainly comes into play,” said the Dayton Daily News’ Hal McCoy.
“He doesn’t want to talk about the past?” he said, “Then I don’t want to consider his past.”
McGwire, who hit 583 career home runs, headlines the ballot released Monday along with Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn. Results will be announced in early January.
