BIGGIO: Falls short in first Hall of Fame bid
Thus, the July 28 induction ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y., will be limited to the three honorees chosen in December by the Veterans Committee – former Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert, early-20th Century umpire Hank O'Day and 19th Century catcher Deacon White. All are deceased, so descendants will take part of the ceremony.
Other notable first-time candidates who fell short were outfielder Sammy Sosa, catcher Mike Piazza and pitcher Curt Schilling.
Also left out were Jeff Bagwell, Biggio's long-time Houston Astros teammate, and several among the 37 eligible players whose vote totals have been climbing year to year, most notably pitcher Jack Morris and outfielder Tim Raines.
Morris still has one year left on the ballot, but his chances will be further clouded by comparisons with pitchers Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Mike Mussina among next year's strong class of first-time eligibles. Hitters Frank Thomas and Jeff Kent also will bring strong candidacies in 2014.
The only player for whom time has run out is Dale Murphy. The two-time National League MVP again fell short in his 15th and final year.
GALLERY: HALL OF FAME BALLOT 
Barry Bonds retired as the all-time home run king with 762.
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Barry Bonds won seven MVP awards, three of them with the Pirates.
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Barry Bonds led a controversial career, most notably as a central figure in baseball's steroids scandal.
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Fans hold up asterisks after San Francisco's Barry Bonds hit career homer 755 against the Padres at Petco Park.
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Roger Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards and 354 games for four teams.
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Roger Clemens would be a slam dunk HOF choice if not for his link to performance-enhancing drugs.
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Roger Clemens is third among career Wins Above Replacement among pitchers. In fact, his career WAR is eighth all-time for any position.
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Sammy Sosa hit 609 homers and had three 60-home run seasons yet is a long shot for the Hall of Fame.
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Sammy Sosa testified before Congress during a hearing on steroid use in Major League Baseball on March 17, 2005.
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Sammy Sosa, left, and Mark McGwire laughed after Sosa's comment, "Baseball been berry berry good to me," during a pre-game press conference in 1998.
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Mark McGwire held up the ball used on his record-setting 62nd home run in 1998.
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Mark McGwire's 62nd home run follow-through.
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Mark McGwire testified before Congress during a hearing on steroid use in Major League Baseball on March 17, 2005.
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Mark McGwire, right, with former Bash Brother Jose Canseco.
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Rafael Palmeiro testified before Congress during a hearing on steroid use in Major League Baseball on March 17, 2005.
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Rafael Palmeiro is one of four players with 500 career homers and 3,000 hits.
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Palmeiro hit at least 20 home runs in 13 consecutive seasons with a high of 47 in 1999 and 2001.
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Mike Piazza hit 396 home runs as a catcher, the most in history, and 427 total in his career.
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Piazza was elected to 12 All-Star Games and won 10 consecutive Silver Slugger awards.
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Whispers about steroid usage are what might keep Piazza from making the Hall on the first ballot.
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A 1990 photo of Jeff Bagwell, who played for the New Britain Red Sox.
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Houston Astros long time first baseman and four-time All-Star Jeff Bagwell announced his retirement from playing baseball in Houston on Dec. 15, 2006.
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Jeff Bagwell led the Astros to the 2005 World Series against the White Sox.
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Jeff Bagwell in spring training before the 2000 season.
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Jeff Bagwell's headshot before the 1996 season.
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David Wells tossed a perfect game with the Yankees on May 17, 1998.
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Dale Murphy amassed more total bases than any other player in the decade of the 1980s (2,796). Only Mike Schmidt had more home runs over that span than Murphy, and only Eddie Murray had more RBI.
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Fred McGriff hit 493 home runs playing for six different teams.
