This year’s Hall of Fame class of baseball promises to be a landmark class in the annals of the history of the sport. Usually Hall of Fame selection draws enough debate as it is. You have your border line cases that draw a ton of support and then some not so much. It happens every year.
But this year, out of the 37 names sent to eligible voters there are 24 first timers many of whom were either on the Mitchell Report or were rumored to be playing steroids. With this class and how they vote, the Baseball Writers Association of America will be settling the debate that has raged on since the steroid scandal began.
The three names that are drawing the most attention is Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, and Roger Clemens. For perspective, that’s the Number one and number eight in home runs All time. That’s seven MVP’s and 7 CY Youngs. We’re talking about arguably the greatest hitter and pitcher looking for entry into the Hall of Fame.
This isn’t the first time an admitted steroid user will be seeking admission into the holiest of holies. This is Mark McGwire’s 7th year of eligibility and Rafael Palmiero’s 3rd. The Hall of Fame voting has shown that they aren’t going to open their arms to these guys. But this year’s class won’t be so easy to just sweep under the rug.
My biggest problem with the debate has been pretty much the same I’ve had with baseball since the steroid scandal leaked. So now you want to play the moral card? Now you want to judge guys by claiming low character? Oh that’s rich.
I love hearing the poetic history of all the greats that would be rolling in their graves if they knew that Barry Bonds was joining their ranks. The fact is, nobody is buying that garbage. Nobody is buying this holier than though morality play that the sportswriters are playing. And I dont want to hear straight numbers guys give me any nonsense about it either, cause statistically 100% of all your arguments all can be argued the other way.
Barry Bonds deserves to be in the hall of fame on his first shot. So does that scum bag Roger Clemens. Why? Because their numbers suggest they do. Because there isn’t a specific time or date to attribute to when they began. The only physical date they have is when they were caught for us to go by. Its not our duty to speculate as to how long they were on these banned substances.
It seems funny that baseball had this issue going as far back as 1988 when Jose Canseco was throwing 40/40 seasons onto his resume. It was clear back then that steroids was invading professional athletic culture. Body builders had for years used it to speed up their muscle building and many used it to help them in their recovery. But how was it going to play when a truly great player got it?
Enter Barry Bonds. He had by 1999 been virtually the greatest player in all of baseball when, according to the Game of Shadows written by Mark Fainaru Wada and Lance Williams, he decided that since Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were using it to set records that he too would begin experimenting with supplements. Of course giving a player with the skills of Barry Bonds an additional advantage is kind of like giving Michael Jordan a defenseless baseline to abuse. Bonds went on to have statistically some of the most mind numbing years possible and virtually swept the 2001-2004 MVP awards and even got his team to the World Series and within a game of winning it in 2002.
Was it wrong for Bonds to use it? Of course. Was he playing the game with an advantage over the majority of competition? Sure. But couldn’t you say that his genetics gave him that advantage anyway? Couldn’t you argue that the hall of fame is not based on how good a person is on the inside, but how he plays the game? Was there a doubt pre-1999 about Bonds’ Hall of Fame credentials? So why now? Because baseball writers want to appear to be the good guys out to clean up the sport? Save it for those who care.
Bonds, like Clemens were the best at their position and while they may have this cloud hanging over them, their achievements on the field are what matter in the long run. Their ability to dominate is what made them great. Their numbers make this a debate because most are concerned with being fair to the process.
Here’s my idea. Create a Hall of Fame for steroid users. The Hall is a representation of the history of the game of baseball and this era must be addressed and must be documented. Who was part and parcel with its history and who dominated during a very dark time. The sport won’t be ostracized because its being honest, it will be thought of highly because its being proactive. I’m sick and tired of hearing sports writers go on and on about preserving the sanctity of the sport. While these same athletes were doing the sport, and they were covering them in the locker room, where was this intrepid journalism? Where was the conviction then?
Its interesting now to hear some of them talk about how far back and how prevalent this was. Its also hilarious to hear them back track and explain why they were not able to write about it before. The truth is, you stood by and cheered and applauded just like the rest of us. If as reporters and writers you’re just as fooled and betrayed as fans are, then that’s kind of sad and ridiculous. You’re supposed to be one step ahead, giving the fans the scoop and all the insider stuff that we, as fans, love soaking up. Those interesting nuggets of information that let me the fan know that something is up with this guy or something is not right with that guy.
Don’t start playing the after the fact game. I hate that. Do yourselves a favor Hall of Fame voters. Vote them in because their numbers suggest they belong or create a seperate wing. Don’t keep them out a year to prove a point because that point won’t really be made. Either get them in now or keep them out forever. If you’re delaying their entry to prove a point its one you’ve made throughout the steroid scandal: that its ok as long as they, the sportswriter, are in charge of the story.
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