Recent Home Runs and the Hall of Fame

The question of how the past 25 years will be viewed by Hall of Fame voters is a good one. According to Baseball-Reference, 60 players have hit at least 300 home runs in the last 25 years. Here's the categories they fall into:

Already in Hall
Cal Ripken, Jr

Will be in Hall (not linked to steroids)
Ken Griffey Jr
Mike Piazza

Will be in Hall...if voters lighten stance on steroids
Barry Bonds
Sammy Sosa
Mark McGwire
Alex Rodriguez
Manny Ramirez
Ivan Rodriguez

Should be in Hall (not linked to steroids)
Chipper Jones
Jeff Kent
Jim Thome
Frank Thomas
Albert Pujols

It's possible (not linked to steroids)
Jeff Bagwell
Vladamir Guerrero
Edgar Martinez

It's possible (steroids)
Rafael Palmeiro
Gary Sheffield

This is what makes it interesting. You could make a pretty nice Hall of Fame group from this era's power hitters without including the steroid-linked guys, but you wouldn't be telling the whole story. I'll get more into it tomorrow, but just something to think about...