Buhner doubts Hall call

Jay Buhner has no delusions of grandeur, no pretensions of Cooperstown.

Ask him if he expects to get a Hall of Fame vote when the results are announced today — a single vote, mind you; not actual election — and he snorts.

"No. Come on. Let's be serious. You've got to be realistic. The chances of me getting a vote are slim and none."

Buhner, who retired from the Mariners after the 2001 season, is on the ballot this year for the first time, but virtually all of the focus will be on three other first-timers.

Specifically, the burning issues are how close Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. will come to unanimity, never achieved by any inductee, and how much the steroids cloud over Mark McGwire will hurt his candidacy.

Buhner considers it a major victory just to be on the ballot. To do so, a player must have been retired five years, played in at least 10 seasons, and pass the muster of a six-member screening committee.

"I didn't even know I was on the ballot until someone sent it to me on an e-mail two weeks ago," he said. "Truthfully, it's flattering to be even mentioned with the names on there, for God's sakes."

Buhner, who hit 310 homers and drove in 965 runs during his career (all but three of the homers and 13 of the RBI with the Mariners), is probably selling himself short when he predicts a voting shutout.

Among players on recent ballots who received at least one vote from members of the Baseball Writers Association of America are Walt Weiss, Juan Samuel, Danny Tartabull, Tim Wallach, Mike Greenwell, John Kruk and Jim Deshaies.

"I'll get a courtesy vote, like a courtesy golf clap," he joked.

A player must receive at least 5 percent of the votes cast to remain on the ballot.

"What happens next year and the years after doesn't matter," he said. "Even to be on there one time is a very nice gesture. It tells you that with all the hard work, people noticed what you did."

Buhner, 42, says his realistic Hall of Fame dreams involve Mariners teammates Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, Edgar Martinez and Alex Rodriguez.

"I'm just looking forward to seeing those guys go in," he said.

"No one doubts the fact that Junior and Randy will go in for sure. Edgar's going to go in; unfortunately, it will be a little more difficult for him, because of the DH and how people view him.

"And, of course, A-Rod. For him, the biggest decision will be who will let him wear their uniform."

Speaking of which, Buhner envisions Griffey being the first player inducted in the local colors.

"I think he'll go in as a Mariner, no doubt about it," he said. "Look at the numbers and what he did here. That's a given. I haven't talked to him about it, but I'm sure he'll agree — going in as a Mariner would be huge."

Larry Stone: 206-464-3146 or lstone@seattletimes.com