With all this talk of steroids, should they be elected into the Hall of Fame?
121035
How can they justify Ty Cobb in the Hall of Fame or Denny McClain or Babe Ruth and not Pete Rose.  Anybody who has ever watched Pete play knows he didn't throw any games.   His lifetime ban from being in the game is justified, his not being in the Hall is a farce.  The fact that they will let Barry Bonds even pass Babe Ruth's home run mark or get anywhere near the accomplishments of Hank Aaron is a black mark on the game of baseball.  Selig needs to step in and ban Barry Bonds from playing until a inquiry can be completed.
321380
I'll probably take heat for this, but I have to go with Bonds here.\n\nAaron had incredible longevity and consistency - he never hit over 50 home runs, yet holds the career home run record; very impressive. He also did this under intense scrutiny and racial tension - back then, people weren't excited about the Babe being passed by a black man (you might say the same thing is true today, but not to the same extent).\n\nHowever, even before Bonds allegedly (this has never been proven for sure, although it certainly looks like he did it) took steroids, he was doing things few players have ever done in the sport, like hitting for 30 home runs and stealing 30 bases in the same season, which he did a bunch of times (he even went 40/40 in '96). And then his stats are just unbelievable for the past 6-10 years. Not only his home run totals, either. His slugging percentage and walks (he barely got pitches to hit for a few years in a row) rivaled the Babe during this stretch. Sure, steroids (if he did take them) helped, but his innate ability and hard work had to have a big part of this. I mean, the guy was unpitchable for awhile. Aaron was never unpitchable or even close to it.\n\nIt's too bad Bonds has this steroid thing hanging over him.
268105
zack77766, of course if you look at him in Pittsburg and look at him today he's gonna be bigger!!!! That's a span of 20 years!!!!!! HE WORKED OUT AND BUILT UP MUSCLE!!!!!!!! And besides if any of you nay-sayers actually believe steroids help you hit homeruns, why didn't Jose Canseco hit a shitload more than he did in his career? He only hit 44 homers in a season!!! And according to Canseco, steroids help you heal faster and prolongs your carrer.Then why is Canseco out of baseball since 2001(and don't tell me you believe that shit of him being blackballed by baseball) when he just turned 40 on January of this year, and why are Bonds' knees still hurting him a year after the operation. All steroids do is give you muscle, not instant homeruns!!!!! Steroids don't give you hand-eye coordination, which is what you need to hit a baseball(hell, you need it for any sport). The point is, Barry has never failed a drug test and there is no such thing as an "undetectable steroid" or a masking agent that ONLY Barry has. He's clean, get over it.\n\nOk, here's my answer to the question:\n\nYes he belongs in the Hall of Fame.\n\n· 7 MVPs\n· 13-time All Star\n· 8 Gold Gloves\n· 12 Silver Slugger Awards\n· Third member of 700 Home Run Club\n· Only member in 500/500 Club\n· Single Season Home Run King (73)\n· Two-time N.L. Batting Champion (2002, 2004)\n· Player of the Decade for the 1990's by The Sporting News\n· All-time Major League walks leader\n· Set single-season walks (232) and intentional walks (120) record\n· Set single-season OBP record (.609)\n· Holds Major League record for consecutive seasons  with 30-or-more HR, accomplishing this 13 times\n\nDEFINITLY HALL OF FAME MATERIAL
412235
Whoever can supply the most steroids
638646
I wouldn't say steroids.  It has to do with the fact that players are now being bred to grow up playing sports.  Football players are conditioned and trained from grade-school through-out their entire life to be faster stronger and smarter.  This goes for any sport.  The conditioning regimen for high school nowadays includes two-a-days (two practices in one day) for 2 weeks in the middle of July (hottest month of the year).  You think they put 15 year olds through that 50 years ago?  Even in gradeschool now, they are doing two-a-days.  They are being groomed to play football from ages 6 or so on up
155683
No.  The difference between players like Pujols and Bonds is age and talent.  Think of Pujols as the LeBron of baseball.  Pujols is so young and takes care of his body well.  Everyone knew from the beginning he would be a great player.  On the other hand, when you're over 40 years old and look like a truck as Bonds does, you know he has to be taking supplements to maintain his strength and figure.  Pujols doesn't need to take roids.  He might need to in about 15 years but he's smarter than that.  Plus, he's a great human being.  He's the kind of player that baseball needs more of.
420032
yes they're dead!\n\ni heard from steroids but i don't know. some say an overdose.don't know which.\n\noh,WIKIPEDIA!
502496
Steroids.  That's their intended purpose.
442664
Everyone is bringing up steroids; I don't care if he used them or not - he's NOT a Hall of Famer.\n\nHis numbers just aren't there; this is the "Hall of Fame" - not the "Hall of Guys who were fairly good at ONE aspect of a game when there's '5 Tools' behind true greatness."\n\nTo me, Big Mac had TWO "HOF" caliber seasons; 1996 and 1998. The guy played 15 years and all he could muster was ONE season over .300 in which he played over 90 games.\n\n.300 is the mark of a 'good' hitter; not even great. Big Mac has a career average of .263; that's average-to-below-average; Big Mac was a BELOW AVERAGE contact-hitter - playing a position that wasn't at a premium defensively - that almost makes him a liability.\n\n583 - his homerun total - is impressive. Very good. Prodigal; even. As is his 10.6 At Bats per Home Run(good for best all time).\n\nBut his strikeout totals are pretty 'impressive' too; if you like big numbers. He's 23rd all-time(1596). Which doesn't contrast very nicely with the fact that he isn't in the Top 100 for all-time at-bats - I don't know what he ranks in that; only that it's over 1500 less than the guy who is 100th (Bid McPhee, 8291). What I'm getting at: He strikes out too much to be a hall of famer.\n\nSo, he strikes out too much; he doesn't hit for average. He's not even top 5 in home runs - but that's not the worst of it.\n\nHe's a choker. He has a .217 career average in the post-season. His prodigal power becomes timid in the post season; 5 HRs in 129 ABs. That's ONE homerun for every 25.8 at-bats; Which is rather pedestrain. So, Big Mac turns into a Kid's Meal under pressure. Hall of Fame? Pshaw - David Eckstein is more of a HOFer once October rolls around. This is a guy they needed to count on; he was a key part of the batting order; called upon to produce - he didn't.\n\nYou want to enshrine someone who lived and died(judging by his Batting Average and Strike Outs, mostly died) by the Home Run - an overrated statistic, if you ask me - who can't buy a hit in the post season - into the Hall.\n\nNo; just no.
250569
jahhhahhah! of course we are..do as we say not was we doers..that's what we are...i struggle with that all the time...oh well.. cut barry a break, he knows he's lame, but he's working on that. yeah, he's a buttface, but he's a danged good baseball player!!!! danged good. sprots are bought and paid for..and barry just decided to spend his dough to become a better player..yeah, i think he did it...but who cares, he gives us a show! i'm gonna say it agian. he's one heck of a player!  and like really, how does roids make him really play better...he gets a personal high...ok, so ...what..like millions of people don't buy illegal drugs, better yet, like billions of baseball hoares don't drink beer at the game...give me a break...let 'em all take roids..see what kinda game they can play then.  hypocrites, yes, absolutely. i am one of the worst out there...i try not to be...but then again i don't have an important role in the big leagues...i live here, one small person, in one small house with my family...who do as i do, not as i say...f Uck them and let them use xxx and yyy and zzz to power up and out...they really are only hurting themselves...steroids don't give you super powers...they just make you more...person. throw the ball, let's play!\nmaybe that is why bonds is loved and hated...the roids...think about it. really. and give him slack...he's a human, like us all, but on roids...that was just plain ol wrong what someone did to him at the pads game...he's only human!  just like p bush!
589730
yes..they should keep they have deep and complex layers of talent ronaldo, ronaldinho, kaká, and more...they are able to play well with all kinds of substitutes, mold the sport into an art, and play for the love and passion of it...
211444
When I look at his before pictures and him in the present there is no doubt in my mind that he has/is using steroids. Mark Mcguire and Sammy Sosa are others that have probably used steroids.
465979
absolutely!!! they got to be famous by cheating, and that is not fair to the athletes that used hard work and determination in order to get to the majors!! Babe Ruth is the #2 all-time HR hitter in my mind
72193
Pete Rose deserves to be in the Baseball Hall of Fame.  The hall of fame is to highlight those players who proved their baseball skills on the field or those who helped to elevate the game off of the field.  That man proved himself day after day on the diamond and as such deserved a place.  For goodness sakes, the man is one of the greatest hitters to pick up a bat, and he did it 'roid free! How many of today's current players are juiced up and heading for the hall?? \nAnd beside that, all he did was bet on baseball.  There are people who are either already in the hall or who you KNOW are going to be in the hall that have done far worse things.  There are drug abusers (and I am not just speaking of steroids), wife beaters, thieves, and all manner of true criminals.  It's pathetic that people with stats that don't hold up next to Pete Rose's, but who's criminal history should give them a spot on America's Most Wanted can make it into the hall but Pete Rose can't.
177365
That's a good question...\n\nYou're right about Jeter, A-Rod and Randy Johnson... they are all shoe-ins...\n\nAlso, Mariano Rivera will probably be a first ballot Hall of Famer (as will those other guys)...\n\nI think Bernie Williams has a shot, because the Yankees have just been so successful during his career. Plus, he has great post-season numbers...\n\nGiambi might qualify based on his career numbers (by the time he retires). It will depend on how the electors view the steroids issue, we won't really know that for a few years yet...\n\nPosada, again, it will depend on what kind of career numbers he puts up, but he also has an outside shot, due to the team success of the Yankees during his career. If they win a couple more Championships while he's still catching, it will improve his chances greatly. I'm not sure how many All Star games Posada has played in, but that could also be a factor if he makes the All Star team enough times...\n\nWith Mussina, as with any pitcher, we'll have to see what kind of career numbers he puts up. He's 37 right now, with a career record of 224-127, a fine .638 winning percentage, and he's almost 100 games over 500.  His ERA of 3.64 is ok considering the era he's pitching in... I don't think his career record quite puts him in yet, but if he can stay healthy, he might be able to get close to 300 wins and 3,000 strikeouts (he now has 2,400).  It will also help if he gets a ring or two...\n\nSheffied, again, depends on Steroid Issue... He'll have the numbers, I think... he and Mussina are both still playing well...\n\n\nFrankly, Don Mattingly's career #s of 2,153 hits, 222 home runs, 1,099 RBI are really not HOF caliber, especially for a first baseman. Not making it to a World Series hurt him.  A .307 average is good, and I think he's the best Yankee player never to play in a World Series, but the fact that his career was only 1,785 games also hurts.  His chances were hurt even more by the fact that he was "projected" to put much more impressive numbers up than he actually did (there was actually a time when he was projected to be a 3,000, maybe even a 4,000, hit man). He really is not a Hall of Famer, IMO.  He had, in reality, only about six good seasons.  He would have to have kept that quality up for 10 or 12 years to be seriously considered for the HOF.
337232
I think they'll honor it just like any other record, if he does break the record.  They didn't say that wouldn't.  Steroids were banned just recently, and they can't go back and enforce something that was legal back then.  Otherwise, they would have to go back and investigate every single player since the start of baseball in order to have no discrimination and that's not going to happen.
632639
Yeah, probably, at least according to his numbers posted in the steroid/HGH era (ca. 1986 - present).  But then again, considering all that has been discovered over the past two seaons, I have the strong right to wonder if he were/is probably on some illegal performance enhancer himself.  So I would be hesitant to put his name on the top of the list.  In fact, I don't think any player of this same era should have any record in the record books, considering that there is just way too much of a cloud of doubt surrounding just about every single baseball star who has played during this period.  \n\nPersonally, I find it kind of strange that Clemens seemed to be on the decline of his career in the early-to-mid 90s only to re-surface as an amazingly dominant pitcher again a few years later with Toronto.  I mean, the Red Sox must have known that he was on his way out -- sure, teams make mistakes all the time (and the 1990s Red Sox weren't exactly the smartest team around), but not to the point where an organization would have been so entirely, utterly wrong about the future of a franchise player.  It's all just too fishy.  So, that said, I don't think we can ever really judge the extent of Clemens' "greatness".  Which, by the way, is the same reason why I'm not sure how easy it is to gauge any player's "greatness", because many "great" players have either found ways around the rules (corked bats, spit-ball pitchers, etc.) or have just benefitted from favorable conditions unavailable to players of other generations (such as pitchers during the dead-ball era, or sluggers during the Coors Field/Jose Canseco "juiced" era).