BASEBALL:Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens are up for election to baseball's Hall of Fame for the first time, boasting career numbers that would ordinarily mark them as shoo-ins but facing a possible backlash over suspected steroids use.

All-time home run leader Bonds, seven-time Cy Young winner Clemens and Sammy Sosa, who hit 609 career home runs, were among 37 players listed on the ballot sent yesterday to voting members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

Candidates must be retired at least five years and not have been on the ballot for more than 15 years and need to get 75 percent of the more than 600 ballots to be cast to win induction. Results will be announced on January 9th.

Seven-time Most Valuable Player Bonds, Clemens and Sosa all fell under suspicion of doping use later in their careers and if recent Hall of Fame voting is an indication, the trio could have a hard time getting elected.