The Past Is Prologue
Here's an interesting piece from Sunday's Inquirer from Claire Smith about Mark McGwire's Hall of Fame chances. A number of voters offer their opinions about McGwire, who is the first of the superstar alleged steroid users to appear on the HOF ballot. Everyone agrees he won't get anywhere near the 75 percent needed for induction. He will be lucky to get 25 percent.
I am amused by the moral outrage expressed by so many of these writers regarding McGwire and steroid use. Although it was apparent that he and many (probably a majority) of his peers used performance-enhancing drugs, very few of these writers said anything until Barry Bonds' head got so big that it flew next to Underdog in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. So spare me the sermons.
I would not vote for McGwire, but not because of the steroids issue. I agree with those who argue that McGwire was a one-dimensional player, and I would put him in the category of those who were very good but just not good enough for the HOF. Except for his 70-homer season in 1998, when he finished second to Sammy Sosa, he never was a serious MVP candidate. And while I would not vote against him because of the steroids thing, I do think you have to view his home run total in context. So, even his main qualification has to be inflation-adjusted, a type of bracket creep whose next victims are likely to be Sosa and Rafael Palmiero.
The most interesting decision of all is at least six years away, which is when Bonds may be first considered. I heard Buster Olney say on ESPN today that he does not think any of the superstars linked to steroids -- including Bonds -- will get in. My prediction is that Bonds will get in, although it may take a while. And what an induction speech that will be.
I am amused by the moral outrage expressed by so many of these writers regarding McGwire and steroid use. Although it was apparent that he and many (probably a majority) of his peers used performance-enhancing drugs, very few of these writers said anything until Barry Bonds' head got so big that it flew next to Underdog in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. So spare me the sermons.
I would not vote for McGwire, but not because of the steroids issue. I agree with those who argue that McGwire was a one-dimensional player, and I would put him in the category of those who were very good but just not good enough for the HOF. Except for his 70-homer season in 1998, when he finished second to Sammy Sosa, he never was a serious MVP candidate. And while I would not vote against him because of the steroids thing, I do think you have to view his home run total in context. So, even his main qualification has to be inflation-adjusted, a type of bracket creep whose next victims are likely to be Sosa and Rafael Palmiero.
The most interesting decision of all is at least six years away, which is when Bonds may be first considered. I heard Buster Olney say on ESPN today that he does not think any of the superstars linked to steroids -- including Bonds -- will get in. My prediction is that Bonds will get in, although it may take a while. And what an induction speech that will be.
posted by FCB at 9:41 PM
1 Comments:
Unless Bonds test positive, is actually convicted of something, or otherwise changes his story, he should get in. He has the career for it. There's just no question.
Of course, there's always the potential for a Dowd type investigation and report but given that the baseball powers that be have continued to allow the guy to actually play the game in the face of these allegations, I suspect it would be more complicated (and really wrong, I think) to attempt to "bar him from baseball" just for purposes of the HOF.
-- A friend in Philly
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