Many feel Mark McGwire will be punished by Hall of Fame voters for his alleged use of steroids. That may be the case, but even without the question of whether he was clean, I don't think he deserves to get in. I don't think he's Hall of Fame worthy.
Yes, he hit a lot of homers. When he beat Roger Maris' record it was a great moment that helped many forget about the labour strife that killed a World Series. Late in his career his slugging percentage began to soar, but he was all about the homer.
Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. are also on the ballot, and they're shoe-ins. McGwire will be left on the outside looking in and that's a good thing. Not because he tarnished the integrity of the sport and not because he beat out George Bell for the 1987 Home Run crown but because he was a one-dimensional player who simply doesn't belong in the hallowed halls of Cooperstown.
