Ripken, Gwynn into Hall

Ripken, the shortstop/third baseman who surpassed Yankee legend Lou Gehrig's record of 2,130 games before ending his streak of consecutive games played at 2,632, received 537 votes or 98.5 percent of votes cast in balloting by members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Gwynn, whose eight batting titles tied him for the National League record with Honus Wagner, received 532 votes for 97.6 percent.

The vote also served as a referendum on players caught up in steroid allegations. Mark McGwire, the prodigious home run hitter who once owned the single season home run record, failed to win election in his first year on the ballot.

McGwire, who belted 70 home runs in 1998 to become the first player to reach that mark, appeared on fewer than 25 percent of the record 545 ballots cast.

McGwire, who has never tested positive for steroids, refused under oath to answer questions about steroid use during a U.S. Congressional hearing into the subject.

Candidates needed to be named on 75 percent of the ballots to gain entry into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

Rich "Goose" Gossage, who amassed 310 career saves as a leading relief pitcher, fell 22 votes short in his eighth year on the ballot.