2015 Hall Of Fame Ballot: Jared Massey’s Selections
PEDs
Let’s address the elephant in the room. Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens should have been near unanimous first-ballot Hall of Famers. They weren’t, obviously, because they’re suspected steroid users. So, the question becomes, “Should players who are suspected of using steroids/PEDs/cheating be enshrined?” The answer is fairly simple: yes.
The Hall of Fame likes to advertise itself as a museum. Museums serve one purpose: to provide an accurate representation of history. Whitewashing baseball history, specifically the “Steroids Era,” is dishonest and robs future generations of knowing the full story of the national pastime.
There’s also the concept of “innocent until proven guilty.” Both Bonds and Clemens have vehemently denied ever using PEDs, though Bonds reportedly tested positive for amphetamines during the 2006 season.
Other players, like Mike Piazza, have been accused based on far more spurious reasons. Allowing writers to point fingers without evidence taints the process and casts doubt on players who may have never used. You either show iron-clad proof that someone cheated or don’t bring it up.
“But tainting the Hall with cheaters would destroy the institution!” Sure, let’s not let people in who cheated. Even though players like Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle admitted to using amphetamines after the fact, while hurlers like Whitey Ford, Gaylord Perry and Don Sutton admitted to doctoring the ball on the mound.
And the morality clause? Throw that out the window with Ty Cobb and Rogers Hornsby already inside. Hell, the first commissioner of Major League Baseball, Kennesaw Mountain Landis, was integral in segregating the sport for decades.
Let’s also not forget the most obvious reason why the whole PED scandal doesn’t really matter — PEDs aren’t proven to even help ballplayers. Here are some names to consider: Dayton Alexander, Adalberto Mejia, Luis Morel, Alex Real, and Yeison Medina. You’ve probably never heard of them before.
That’s because they’re all Minor-Leaguers who were suspended during the 2014 season for using PEDs. They weren’t all 50 home run hitters or 100-mph pitchers; they were the players looking for a leg up. The problem is there’s no proof that using PEDs actually helped them perform better. Sure, maybe they felt better or stronger, but they didn’t become superstars overnight. And let’s not forget that Bonds, before he broke the home run record, had already won three MVP awards.
So, there you have it. I hope you understand why I chose the players I did. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me on Twitter @JaredJMassey.
Bonds is a HOFer….but no way is he arguably the greatest player in the history of the game…..that is reserved for Babe Ruth…
While I do not agree that Bonds was the greatest ever, I saw Mays, Mantle, Clemente and others play that were amazing,. I do agree he should be in the HOF. I do not believe the HOF vote should have ever become a morality test. Vote on performance, period, After a nasty Labor Dispute McGuirre and Sosa brought interest in baseball back. I have low testosterone if I were a ball player I could not take it. Give it a rest, vote them in Bonds, Clements, McGuirre et all.
well hell lets let all the ped users in,the old timers didn’t need it and so far as bonds is concerned the real homerun champ is hank arron and babe ruthi saw mays and clemente and mccovey and those guys play to.it was the good old golden age of baseball back then.
First of all Bonds and Clements have never been convicted of using steroids. The government spent a lot of time and money trying to convict Clements and could not do it. Second of all I repeat the HOF last time I checked was supposed to be for Baseball Excellence it is not a morality check. Lets vote for the players on how they performed on the field. You do not know who, in that era, used. From some of the articles I have read there were a lot of guys using. But that was what was going on at the time. Get over it and stop attempting to decide who did what. Vote on performance, period. There are a lot of rumors about Biggio, Bagwell, Piazza etc. People can be ruined by rumor and innuendo if they have not been convicted in a court of law how can you say they are guilty? Dodgers 55 my first game was at the Coliseum in 58 so I have also seen a lot of baseball. My answer to you is yes let everyone in. And Ped’s or no Peds Bonds was one of the top 10 players I have ever seen. I was priveleged to watch Mays, Mantle Clemente, Hank Arron. I am thrilled to still be alive and watch Trout and the young guys coming up.
How easy you forget Pete Rose . . .