HispanicBusiness

Ending years of silence -- but surprising few -- retired slugger Mark McGwire today admitted to using steroids.

Will this help his chances to finally get his name in the Hall of Fame, after four failed tries? The views among experts are mixed.

The Hall of Fame aspirant today released a statement fessing up to using performance-enhancing drugs throughout the 1990s, including his legendary 1998 season with the St. Louis Cardinals. That year, he beat Sammy Sosa in a neck-and-neck race for the homerun title, and broke Roger Maris's record of 61 homers in a single season by nine.

In 2005, McWire was famously mum on the topic while under oath before a U.S. congressional committee. Many say it's this clammed-up approach that has thwarted McWire's four attempts to get into the Hall of Fame.

Some now believe he will now have a better chance of getting in.

Among them is baseball historian Peter Golenbock.

"It seems to be the case with players who own up to what they did, they are quickly forgiven," he told Bloomberg News. "McGwire certainly qualifies to be in the Hall of Fame. He belongs in the Hall of Fame and I suspect that one of these days, he will be."

But Seattle Times sports writer Geoff Baker -- a Hall of Fame voter -- isn't so sure.

"Right now, the only fair way I have to judge these guys is based on what is in front of me. I have the names of some of the dirty ones. I can't look the other way and pretend the needles didn't go into their hindquarters," he wrote, adding that voting on admitted and suspected steroid users is a "tough call."

"I doubt McGwire will be getting in the Hall of Fame any time soon. And believe me, there are some other names out there who might be in for a surprise when their ballot turn comes due."