Mark McGwire fell far short in his first try for the Hall of Fame, picked by 23.5% of voters while Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. easily gained baseball’s highest honor.

Tarnished by accusations of steroid use, McGwire appeared on 128 of a record 545 ballots in voting released yesterday by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

Ripken was picked by 537 voters and appeared on 98.53% of ballots to finish with the third-highest percentage behind Tom Seaver (98.84) and Nolan Ryan (98.79).

The former Baltimore Orioles shortstop said he was both relieved and euphoric. If he had been picked by two of the eight voters who didn’t select him, he would have set the percentage record — but he didn’t mind.

“All I wanted to hear was, ‘You’re in,'” Ripken said during a conference call. “I really didn’t get caught up with wanting to be unanimous or wanting to be the most.”

Gwynn received 532 votes for 97.61%, the seventh-highest ever, also trailing Ty Cobb, George Brett, and Hank Aaron.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling to know that people think that what you did was worthy,” Gwynn said.

Goose Gossage finished third with 388 votes, falling 21 shy of the necessary 409 for election. Jim Rice was fourth with 346, followed by Andre Dawson (309), Bert Blyleven (260), Lee Smith (217), and Jack Morris (202).

McGwire was ninth, followed by Tommy John (125) and Steve Garvey (115), who was in his final year of eligibility. McGwire’s dismal showing raises doubts about whether he will ever get elected — players can appear on the BBWAA ballot for 15 years — and whether the shadow of steroids will cost Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, and Rafael Palmeiro places in Cooperstown.