Steroid scandal hangs over '07 Hall ballot

July 31, 2006, USA TODAY

COOPERSTOWN, N. Y. — Bruce Sutter, the newest addition to baseball's Hall of Fame, refused to pass judgment Sunday on players who'll be on next year's ballot and are tied to the steroid scandal.

The late Ken Caminiti, Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire will be on the ballot that will be mailed to veteran members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America in December. All have ties to the scandal.

Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn are the leading candidates on the 2007 ballot.

In the days leading to Sutter's induction Sunday, some Hall of Famers said they were concerned about what might happen if a player such as McGwire is elected. Many of these same Hall of Famers have said they would not return yearly for this weekend if Pete Rose, banned from eligibility because he bet on baseball, were elected.

"The key word is alleged," Sutter said after his induction. "I'm not here to make allegations about anybody. I'm on the player's side. Until he's proven guilty, he's done nothing wrong as far as I'm concerned. I'm not privy to a lot of the information. Allegations to me are simply that."

Hall of Famer Bob Feller said the steroid controversy undoubtedly could reach the Hall of Fame.

"Everybody knows it's coming," Feller told The Washington Post. "Some people would be upset (if McGwire is elected). I obviously wouldn't like it. That would be very damaging for the Hall of Fame."

Hall of Fame President Dale Petroskey told USA TODAY on Friday that with Commissioner Bud Selig's special investigation team headed by former Senate majority leader George Mitchell, more information will be available in the next few years.

"I think next year will be a pretty good indication of how the voters (writers) feel about the subject," he said.

Ryne Sandberg, outspoken during his 2005 induction speech on how players should respect the game more, said it will be interesting to see the vote.