Cal Ripken Jr., Major League Baseball's Ironman, shared the ballot with steroid-tainted sluggers Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco on the list of Baseball Hall of Fame candidates announced on Monday.

Ripken, who smashed Lou Gehrig's record of 2,130 consecutive games appearing in 2,632 consecutive contests from May 30, 1982 to Sept 20, 1998, appears on the ballot for the first time and is virtually guaranteed entry into the baseball shrine.

McGwire, the first player in Major League history to hit 70 home runs in a single season, was also considered an automatic selection until fans began to question if his records were fuelled by performance-enhancing drugs.

During a U.S. Congressional hearing investigating the use of steroids in American professional sports, McGwire refused under oath to answer questions over steroid use.

However, Tony Gwynn, an eight-time batting champion and a 15-time All-Star with the San Diego Padres, is widely expected to receive first-ballot approval.

"It's going to be controversial because I think writers are going to make their point," Gwynn told MLB.com when asked about McGwire's chances of entering the Hall.

"I think he's a Hall of Famer. But it's a lot of people's point of view that he didn't come across well in the Congressional hearings.

"It's going to cost him. It's a shame, but I think that's what's going to happen."

Canseco, who wrote a tell-all book detailing steroid use in the Major Leagues, and the late Ken Caminiti are both on the ballot but are given little hope of ever entering into the Cooperstown shrine having admitted taking steroids throughout their careers.

Nominated players must be named on 75 percent of the ballots cast by members of the Baseball Writers Association of American (BBWAA) in order to earn induction.

The 2007 ballot totals 32 players with 15 returnees and 17 newcomers.

Results will be announced on January 9.