Gaylord Perry enjoyed the peaceful view from a rocking chair on the porch of his farm Tuesday afternoon in Spruce Pine, N.C.

The hours were a few final moments of relaxation before Perry heads to upstate New York. On Wednesday night, he's signing autographs at the Syracuse Chiefs game. This weekend, he's going to Cooperstown to enjoy the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.

Perry's been part of that gathering every year since he was elected to the Hall in 1991.

"That's the only time of the year you get a chance to see some of your old buddies. The guys who hit you hard, that's how they got there,'' he said.

Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry, shown here at a 2002 Induction Ceremony at the Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame in Florida, said he never would have tried performance enhancing drugs if they were available in his era.

Perry collected his share of numbers at the expense of the all-time greats himself. Pitching from 1962 to 1983, he compiled 314 wins, 3,534 strikeouts and a Cy Young award in each league.

He was also the master of the doctored baseball, whether those alterations involved grease, scuffs or just good ol' spit. He was brazen about his craft, titling his 1974 autobiography "Me and the Spitter.''

The induction ceremony that Perry enjoys this weekend will be hauntingly different because none of the inductees are alive. Three men will be honored posthumously: Hank O'Day, Jacob Ruppert and Deacon White.

The ballot totals reflected the ethical voting quandary posed by the emergence of "Steriod Era'' candidates for the sports highest honor. Jeff Bagwell, Mike Piazza, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro were among the candidates with iffy -- or worse -- reputations who were denied this year.

Perry, 74, offered his opinion on that issue, and more.

Would he cast a Hall of Fame ballot for a player linked to steroids?

"Oh, not for a long time. I would wait, wait, wait. I guess (I would) when my brain gets old and forgives them.''



Would he attend a Hall ceremony where a suspected steroid user was inducted?

"Oh, I would think so. It's quite a unique place to go and visit. I'm hoping (inductees who would boycott) would change their mind. I would show up, show my respect.''

Would players of his era have used steroids if they were available?

"I would hope not. We had more farm boys and country boys back back then. They did things (to get stronger) on their own. We didn't have weight rooms. Now they have all that stuff. They should be tuned up pretty good.''



Would he have experimented with steroids?

"Absolutely no. I didn't need to. I pitched nine innings many times there.

"When I started playing they had beer in the clubhouse, drinks. I never did that. That was probably the biggest temptation some of my teammates had. I never did that.''



In terms of ethics and cheating, how much difference is there between throwing a spitter and using steroids?

"There's a tremendous amount. You try things, you try to improve (in looking for a small edge). Back in the 1960s and 70s, we played hard. We had a good time.''

Does he think any of today's pitchers throw a spitter?

"No, I don't think they do it. They have good enough stuff throwing 95, 100. I've seen pitchers throw out scuffed up balls. I don't know why they do that. A scuffed-up ball will move for you. That's what you want.''