It is not that our baseball list has not been controversial in the past. We have already put it through serious revisions when we initially created a “1a” and a “1b” to accommodate the fact that both Pete Rose and “Shoeless” Joe Jackson are ineligible for the Hall due to gambling. A thought crossed our mind to create a list of eligible players who were caught (or suspected) of using PEDs, but there is one fact that cannot be ignored: these players ARE eligible for the Hall of Fame, and as such we have elected to treat as an “era” of the sport.
It has been often said that Barry Bonds would have been a Hall of Famer before the period it is believed that he started taking Performance Enhancing Drugs. With excellent career numbers (both traditional and sabermetric) and three National League MVP Awards under his belt, the Cooperstown resume was already there. What has been speculated is that Bonds grew frustrated at the attention that Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire received during their famous chase of Roger Maris’ single-season Home Run record and that had he done the same things (PED) that they did, he could have surpassed their levels. Whether or not that history is correct, Bonds’ already impressive numbers reached stratospheric levels, and he completely dominated the Steroid Era.
We don’t have to tell you all the statistics. A first look shows seven MVPs, the career Homer Run and Walks mark, and the top five career tallies in Runs, RBIs, WAR, and OPS, and that is without going into great depth. We also don’t have to tell you that Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro (others tainted with PEDs) have colossally failed to get the writer’s support for the Hall, and there is no evidence to show they will change their minds. However, the fact is that Barry Bonds was a better player than those two superstars and if any player from that era deserves to get in, it is Barry Bonds.
We would have no problem casting a vote for Bonds for the Hall of Fame if we were ever granted a ballot, as evidenced by his selection to the top of our list. We would however understand if you wouldn’t.
Should Barry Bonds be in the Hall of Fame?
Definitely put him in! - 58.5%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 1%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 2.3%
No opinion. - 0.5%
No way! - 37.6%
Comments powered by CComment