Guilty Until Proven Innocent: Steroid Speculation Cost Players Hall Of Fame

With the Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2009 announced on Jan. 12, it has become clear that it will be a difficult and long road to Cooperstown for those who have faced steroid allegations.

Mark McGwire, who totaled 583 home runs and 1,414 RBI's in his tenure, only tallied 21.9 percent of the necessary 75 percent of the vote in order enter the Hall of Fame.

It has become a well-known fact that McGwire, who suddenly retired from the MLB after the 2001 season, has been heavily suspected of illegal steroid use.

This suspicion was amplified after McGwire unconvincingly testified in front of a grand jury concerning his and many other players' suspected steroid use.

Other players who testified include Barry Bonds, Rafael Palmero, and Sammy Sosa. All of these players' statistics would make them first ballot Hall of Famers, especially Bonds, who hit a record-breaking 762 home runs.

However, regardless of their stats, all of these player's Hall of Fame statuses are up for debate.

And then their is the highly controversial case of Roger Clemens. Clemens, who has 354 career wins, was never suspected of illegal steroid use until his name was mentioned in the Mitchell Report during 2007.

The Mitchell Report was a document that accused that certain players of steroid use, and was sent out by Maine Sen. George Mitchell.

These players include pitcher Andy Pettitte, who was a teammate and friend of Clemens. Petitte, who later admitted that he used steroids, shared the services of Clemens' trainer, Brian McNamee.

McNamee, who played a key role in the conception of the Mitchell Report, has testified against Clemens, who has retired from baseball and adamantly denies prior steroid use.

Whether you believe the players, or the Mitchell Report, the morale of the story is: don't cheat and you may have a chance for Cooperstown.