Ripken, Gwynn, McGwire headline Hall of Fame ballot

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Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn will likely make the Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. Mark McGwire was believed to be a virtual lock as well before being linked to alleged steroid use. Ripken, Gwynn and McGwire headline the first-time candidates on the 2007 Hall of Fame ballot, which was released on Monday. Jose Canseco, whose book led to a congressional hearing on steroid use in baseball, is also on the ballot for the first time. Canseco has admitted to using steroids and accused McGwire of also taking performance-enhancing drugs when the two were teammates with the Oakland Athletics. McGwire refused to talk about his past when he appeared before a congressional committee. With 583 career home runs, McGwire would have likely been selected to the Hall of Fame. He became the first player to hit 70 home runs in a season in 1998 and followed with 65 in 1999. Canseco hit 462 career homers. Ripken is baseball's ultimate ironman, eclipsing Lou Gehrig's record of 2,130 consecutive games. Ripken spent his entire 21-year career with the Baltimore Orioles and set his record of 2,632 consecutive games from May 30, 1982 to September 20, 1998. A shortstop and third baseman, Ripken had 3,184 hits and 431 home runs. He won the American League MVP award in 1983 and 1991 and two Gold Gloves. Gwynn was an eight-time batting champion and a 15-time All-Star with the San Diego Padres. He had 3,141 hits and a lifetime batting average of .338. Gwynn also won five Gold Gloves as a right fielder. McGwire played 16 seasons with Oakland and the St. Louis Cardinals before a knee injury ended his career in 2001. McGwire's single-season record of 70 was broken by Barry Bonds, who hit 73 homers in 2001. Two-time Cy Young Award winner Bret Saberhagen and outfielders Harold Baines and Paul O'Neill are also among 17 players on the ballot for the first time. Jim Rice, who was 53 votes shy of election last year, pitcher Rich Gossage and Andre Dawson head the list of 15 holdovers from the 2006 ballot. Elections will be announced on January 9. The induction ceremony will take place on July 29