Bonds, Clemens unlikely to get Hall call, poll shows

NEW YORK— Baseball’s all-time home run king and its most decorated pitcher likely will be shut out of the Hall of Fame in January. A survey by The Associated Press shows that Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, as well as slugger Sammy Sosa, don’t have enough votes to get into Cooperstown. With steroid scandals still very much on the minds of long-time members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America as they cast their ballots, the trio failed to muster even 50 per cent support among the 112 voters contacted by the AP — nearly one-fifth of those eligible to choose. Candidates need 75 per cent for election. So Bonds, the only seven-time MVP, and Clemens, the only seven-time Cy Young Award winner, are likely to remain outside the Hall along with career hits leader Pete Rose, who was banned for betting on baseball.

The current ballot was announced this week and Bonds, Clemens and Sosa were on it for the first time. Votes will be cast throughout the month and results will be released Jan. 9.

Among voters who expressed an opinion, Bonds received 45 per cent support, Clemens 43 per cent and Sosa 18 per cent. To gain election, Bonds and Clemens would need more than 80 per cent support among the voters not surveyed and Sosa would need to get more than 85 per cent.

Craig Biggio, Mike Piazza and Curt Schilling also are among the 24 first-time eligibles on the ballot, and Jack Morris, Jeff Bagwell and Tim Raines are the top holdover candidates.