Didn’t surveys die at the last Presidential election? Or was that exit polling? While we were out yesterday, the Associated Press reported a survey of 20% of Hall of Fame voters indicated only 1 in 4 were willing to vote for slugger Mark McGwire into the HOF this year.

This is a story? Hey, there are 500 Hall of Fame voters out there (give or take a few), and we polled 100 of them! Pathetic.

Since people seem to be discussing it, we’ll chime in, and then open it to the masses for your far more insightful thoughts in the comments (hey, it was fun on the College Football thread Monday).

In our jaded eyes, Mark McGwire is no Hall of Famer. Not now, not next year, and not in three years. He’s a glorified Dave Kingman. He was a one-dimensional player who wasn’t a particularly good hitter (.263 career average), was a poor defensive 1st baseman, and seemed to disappear in the postseason (3 World Series appearances, .188 average, 1 HR, 2 RBI; his career postseason average was .217). We’ll stop short of saying that we’d vote in well-rounded Jose Canseco in over McGwire at the risk of being ostricized.

Do we think McGwire will get in? Despite Tim Kirkjian’s best efforts, no. Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn are mortal locks. And we haven’t seen this point brought up yet, but in the last 21 years, only twice have three players been inducted (1999 – Nolan Ryan, George Brett, Robin Yount; 1991 – Rod Carew, Gaylord Perry, Fergie Jenkins). Our darkhorse this year? Daunte Bichette. Just because.

One of the best blog posts we’ve seen in the topic came from the Martini Republic:

In another 4 years, Rafael Palmiero will be on the ballot. He has actually been proven to use steroids by testing — after denying that he used them. His career marks would ordinarily be automatic — 500 home runs and 3000 hits, to go along with 1835 rbi.

But Palmiero was never a popular player, and made only 4 All Star squads. The combined effects of both lying about steroid use and getting caught may prove too much for some voters to swallow.

But for now, McGwire is the canary in the anabolic coal mine. His candidacy will set a threshold of sorts for other would-be “locks” who dabbled with chemical additives. If McGwire, who at the time of breaking Maris’s season HR mark was immensely popular, almost mythical, can be denied, then Palmiero may as well just kiss his chances goodbye.

Lots of bloggers are worked into a lather over the issue, so take in all the opinions, form your own, and then tell us about it in the comments.

Anabolic Meets Cooperstown (Martini Republic)
Say it Ain’t So? (Life on the Wicked State: Act 2)
(Baseball Hall of Fame)
A no vote for McGwire (Boston Globe)
Mark McGwire for the Hall of Fame (Dodger Thoughts)
A Look at the Baseball Hall of Fame 2007 Candidates (The Serious Tip)
Gwynn, Ripken only Hall shoo-ins (San Diego Union Tribune)