NO steroid users should EVER be allowed into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
WHY? There is No good reason they should be admitted.
The Baseball Hall of Fame yearbook, under “Rules for Election by Members of the Baseball Writers Association, states:
“Candidates shall be chosen on the basis of playing ability
integrity, sportsmanship, character, their contributions to
the team or teams on which they played and to baseball
in general.”
Five criteria – ONE on playing ability, ALL others on “integrity, sportsmanship, character.. contributions to baseball in general.”
So – tell me, just how does cheating by using steroids pass the tests of “integrity, sportsmanship, character?” In what realm of “ethics” is this even remotely possible? What dictionary definitions would allow cheating un ‘integrity, sportsmanship?”
Steroid use “contributed” to baseball by nearly ruining it.
The use of steroids without a real doctor’s prescription was illegal under American law. At least one baseball Commissioner explicitly ruled against their use. Are baseball players “above the law?”
The premise of any athletic contest is a player, using his God-given metal and physical abilities, can defeat his opponents because of those natural talents. If he cheats with steroids, he is violating the basic tenet of sports.
Fans in the stands AREN’T on the field because they aren’t physically and mentally equipped to compete [without cheating].
To my knowledge, no Hall of Fame member has EVER accepted steroids use. Some of said, publicly, adamantly, they oppose admitting such players. Some said if it was done, they were through with the Hall.
Many former players have also spoken against it. Some saying the steroid user’ performance, often at advanced ages, were not credibly possible without cheating>
The Olympics take away medals. The NCAA voids seasonal records.
The all-time major league hits record holder is banned for breaking the gambling rule. One of the greatest all time hitters is banned for his KNOWLEDGE of the 1919 Black Sox plot to throw the World Series. [7-8 games, not an entire career]
Teammates of steroids users noticed physical differences in a prominent abusers’ body from fall to spring. His hat size also went up. A comparison of player photos and physical data from “rookie” season to end of career reveal some remarkable differences.
Then – there’s the issue of fairness. Many honest players complained that not using steroids caused them a disadvantage. There are numerous minor league players recorded saying they faced a choice – to use or not. If they didn’t, maybe they don’t get to the major leagues, and the big money. WHY should they face this choice?
In baseball culture and history, the essence of the game itself is in the statistics – who is “the best?” Who has “the numbers?” A steroids user violates the “INTEGRITY” of this. “His” numbers aren’t his, not honestly.
Babe Ruth is ” the Babe” because of what he did, especially compared to his fellow players – many of whom, decades later were still incredulous at what they’d seen him PERSONALLY do. The Babe trained on hot dogs and beer. Ted Williams, .482, is still the greatest offensive force. Bill James’ statistical comparisons show Walter Johnson still the greatest pitcher. Rickey Henderson shattered stolen base records.
To my knowledge, NO player was ever falsely accused by the “Mitchell Report” of illegal substance abuse [Canseco has a chapter on it]. They’ve disputed it, but has any steroids user been falsely accused by documentation?
Books written by Howard Bryant [“Juicing the Game”], Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams [“Game of the Shadows”], Jeff Pearlman {“The Rocket That Fell to Earth”], Kirk Radomski [“Bases Loaded”], and Jose Canseco [“Juiced,” “Vindicated”] name names, provide data. Have any of them been sued for slander or mistruth? GUILTY!!!!!!!!
There are NO “good,” plausible, reasons for steroid users to be rewarded for their actions. In criminal law, a person cannot benefit from breaking the law.
With Justice For All 