Cooperstown welcomes three on first ballot

A new generation of starting pitchers and a self-proclaimed 'Mr Clean' of the Steroids Era will be ushered into baseball's Hall of Fame this summer. But for tainted players, the doors to Cooperstown remain bolted.

Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas were elected on their first ballot appearances on Wednesday, while Craig Biggio fell just two votes short.

Maddux and Glavine will join their former Atlanta Braves manager, Bobby Cox, at the July 27 induction along with Joe Torre and Tony La Russa, also elected last month by the expansion era committee.