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Bonds, Clemens and Sosa not elected to baseball Hall of Fame

Barry Bonds, Rogers Clemens and Sammy Sosa are not elected to the baseball hall of fame.  In fact, no players are selected to the class of 2013. Dan Connolly, f...

Barry Bonds, Rogers Clemens and Sammy Sosa are not elected to the baseball hall of fame.  In fact, no players are selected to the class of 2013.

Dan Connolly, from The Baltimore Sun, has more on the voting.

By Dan Connolly The Baltimore Sun2:36 p.m. EST, January 9, 2013
The electorate of the Baseball Writers Association of America sent a clear message to tainted superstars on Wednesday: If you were suspected of taking performance enhancing drugs, you don’t belong in the Hall of Fame. At least not in 2013.In fact, no one was voted in – the first time that has happened since 1996 and eighth time in the Hall’s history.Craig Biggio, who spent his entire career with the Houston Astros and amassed more than 3,000 hits, received the most support. A first-time candidate, Biggio was named on 68.2 percent of the 569 ballots cast by eligible members of the BBWAA. A candidate needs 75 percent for induction.

Biggio was followed by pitcher Jack Morris (67.7 percent), Jeff Bagwell (59.6), Mike Piazza (57.8) and former Oriole Tim Raines (52.2). No other candidate was named on at least half the ballots.

Outfielder Barry Bonds, the sport’s all-time home run leader who won seven MVPs, and right-hander Roger Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner, both failed to get over 40 percent due to their suspected involvement with PEDs.

Bonds was named on 36.2 percent of ballots and Clemens, 37.6 percent. Former Orioles Sammy Sosa (12.5 percent) and Rafael Palmeiro (8.8) also failed to gain support as part of the steroid controversy.

Palmeiro, the only candidate who failed a drug test, received 72 of 573 votes last year (12.6), meaning he dropped by 22 votes this time around. Because he was named on at least 5 percent of ballots, Palmeiro will remain eligible for 2014.

Here is how all of the former Orioles on the ballot fared: Raines 52.2; Lee Smith 47.8; Curt Schilling 38.8; Sosa 12.5; Palmeiro 8.8; David Wells .09; Steve Finley .07; Jeff Conine 0; Jose Mesa 0.

As a policy, Baltimore Sun writers don’t vote for the Hall or Fame or postseason awards.

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