This year's Hall of Fame ceremonies came and went with muted fanfare, since no modern-era players were elected by the Baseball Writers of America Association.
Get used to it.
The sport's steroids era washed up on shore at high tide this time around, with such alleged drug-enhanced superstars as Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa being treated like beach rubbish by the writers in the trio's first year on the ballot.
They appear set to join the netherworld previously inhabited by other sure Hall of Famers like the drugs-tainted Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro, who remain eligible each year, but get snubbed.
Because the voting electorate of the BBWAA has taken a hard-line stance against anyone with even a whiff of a drug rumour against them, potentially deserving players like Mike Piazza and Jeff Bagwell, who at times seemed to burst from their uniforms, also have received less support than expected, and may continue to be viewed suspiciously.
Furthermore, the current Biogenesis scandal will take suspended star Ryan Braun out of the Cooperstown picture, put the final stake in the Hall heart of the previously exposed drug cheat Alex Rodriguez, and destroy the hopes of any other drug user who happens to put together a Hall-worthy, post-suspension career.
At this rate, the Hall of Fame, that hallowed cathedral of greatness, will be known not just for the illustrious players who are honoured there, but for the tainted greats who are not.
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