I just wanted to take a moment to note how happy I am that Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gywnn will be inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame this year. It's hard to imagine two more deserving players, which must have been the feeling shared by the members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America who voted. Of the 545 ballots cast, Ripken received 537 votes - 128 more than the required minimum for induction. Gwynn received five votes less than Ripken.

Growing up, I didn't pay much attention to Ripken. I knew he was chasing Lou Gehrig's consecutive game record, but didn't know much else beyond that. Being a fan of the National League and the Giants, Baltimore just wasn't on my radar.

I was more aware of Tony Gwynn. He played for the San Diego Padres after all. I just remember being mesmerized whenever he came to the plate. To see the man hit was a joy. It's the same feeling I get today when I see Ichiro Suzuki hit. Although Gwynn's statistics say he failed to reach base six times out ten, it always seemed like he managed to get on when I watched him.

I most remember rooting for Gwynn in 1994, when he came so very close to becoming the first player since Ted Williams to hit .400 in a season. That was the year of the strike that shortened the season and ruined his chances at the elusive mark. He finished with a still amazing .394.

Oddly enough, I first read about Ripken's and Gwynn's election in a New York Times article (registration required) with the headline, "Steroid Cloud Stops McGwire From Entering Hall". It's funny that more attention was given to how many votes Mark McGwire received (or didn't receive) due to his suspected steroid use than to the two men who actually made it into the Hall of Fame. It's also funny that most of the television footage I've seen of Gwynn or Ripken has been of them answering questions about McGwire or steroids.

If the media is going to focus on players who didn't make it in, reporters shouldn't focus on McGwire, who is still eligible for induction next year (he received more than the 5% needed to remain eligible). No, they should focus instead on the poor souls who didn't make the cut and will never get another chance, like McGwire's old Bash Brother, Jose Canseco.

So, to make it up to the players overlooked by the voting members of the association and the media, here is a list to commemorate those who will never have another shot at Cooperstown. They include:

• Albert Belle
• Dante Bichette
• Bobby Bonilla
• Scott Brosius
• Jay Buhner
• Ken Caminiti
• Eric Davis
• Tony Fernandez
• Orel Hershiser
• Wally Joyner
• Paul O'Neill
• Bret Saberhagen
• Devon White
• Bobby Witt