IS there any evidence that supports him NOT using steroids? If he is found to not have taken steroids, should he still make the hall of fame? Should his records stay intact? Did he have a Hall of Fame career, before the HR surge? I would like some real in depth answers. What do you think about it?
137063
hell yeah he had hall of fame career b4 the roids issues.. Just look at all the numbers and gold gloves he putting when he was with Pirates.. I think he could of retired with them and still would of been considered for the hall of fame.. The numbers he has put up since joining the Giants are ridiculous!!!!! the guy always had pop in the bat and if he took the roids it only made him stronger and thats it.. his hand eye cordnation is out of this world and before the bad knees his defense was top of the line
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.
400744
He'll wind up with an AL team, but he may have to take a big salary cut to do so.  Not sure if NY would be interested in him or not...it'd be a good stadium for him, with the short right field...but he's always been a big disruption to a team.  (And they don't need another disruptive player right now.)\nHe'll sign with somebody.  Despite all his claims that he might retire, the egotistical piece of sh*t wants to surpass Aaron more than anything in the world.  He seems to think that it will "validate" him as a great player...despite the fact that he had to load up on steroids to do it.\nI'd love to see him in prison, but I don't think he'll end up there.  The only person who could really put him there is that guy who's been going to jail on contempt of court charges instead of testifying....and I suspect he will continue to do so.  (Wonder how much he's being paid not to squeal?)\nIronically, had Bonds NOT taken steroids, he would have wound up his career with a lot better reputation than he will now, despite all the gaudy batting statistics.
151414
Well i know i waited for him to come out of a pirates locker room for about an hour when he played for us. He finally came out and was pushing people away didnt sign a single thing when every other player at least signed 5-10 things. Over rated probably. steroids Probably . Asshole most definately.
119810
He was walked because, juiced or not, he could hit.  Managers said in a situation where you are up by one run with bases loaded in a late inning and Bonds at the plate, they would actually intentionally walk him and tie the game, and then go after the next guy rather than risk throwing to him.\n\nI don't think that they walked Bonds to keep him from the record.  They all knew he was juiced and knew that eventually it would catch up with him and tarnish his reputation.  But they have ERAs and their own stats to worry about.  And when Bonds' records are eventually all tarnished, they won't go back and say, "Okay Pitcher, we are shaving 2 pts off your ERA due to Bond's homeruns off you.\n\nFinally, Performance enhancing drugs most definitely increase hand-eye coordination as well as swing speed.  This has been documented and is one major perk of them.  Bonds *had* a natural talent that was decreasing and so he used steroids to maintain it.
347397
Gwynn and Ripkin are shoe-ins for the hall.  McGwire will not make it for at least for a few years if ever.  When he faced congress a couple of years ago he really hurt himself when confronted about his possible use of steroid.  Of course he admitted to the use of a certain steroid in 1998 when he "broke" Maris record.\n\nOne of my biggest concerns is that there are players that should be in the hall and for whatever reason have yet to be voted in.  Among my own personal list are players like, Jice Rice, Dave Parker, Don Mattingly, Dwight Evans, Lee Smith, Alan Trammell, Jack Morris, and of course the "Goose" Rich Gossage.\n\nSomebody please tell me why these guys are not hall of famers????
316087
I agree with you, but as far as baseball goes, they didn't "catch on" (which isn't a good thing) until the early-mid 80's. I know myself, no joking of a few players who used steroids to get ripped, as in muscle tone and bat speed, and running speed as well as to prolong thier careers. It is a much different "cycle" than those looking to be huge and monsterous. I'll give you a clue on one of them, he played for the Reds and Tigers and his name rhymes with Derek Shavis. People think ball players tak it for one reason: to hit homers. But the effects are much more potent and better when you try to use it for endurance and to get "chisled". How do I know this, I have studied baseball for 10 of my 20 years on this planet, and I have met and talked to a lot of ball players. It doesn't however make it better to not use it to bulk up, but look at why runners use it and marathoners. Imagine trying to run 26.2 miles and having it feel like 5 miles. Imagine the extra step when you are trying to steal a base? Imagine a few more mph on an outfield throw to get runners out? Or maybe even the extra step to run out a long fly ball. Those are the people MOST don't know about. When a player takes it to bulk, they have one thing on their mind: home runs. So my point is they are both cheaters and punks.
233011
I'm no Bonds fan but tonight I heard just in his past 5 to 8 years he has really been hitting his home runs. witch i think he was on drugs and Babe did it on hot dogs and beer. But if people want Bonds out of the record book you also have to take out Mark McGuire(or how ever its spelled St. Louis sucks any ways)
337714
easily one of the greatest of all-time, the guy won 3 or 4 MVP's before any steroid speculation.  even if he did do steroids, baseball players have been taking them forever and none of them have even approached what Barry is doing, not even close.  mcgwire, sosa, a couple of good years, but nothing even close.  then, you also have the fact that there have been cheats throughout the years, the spitballers.  or the fact that when babe was playing, he wasn't playing against the best players because of the segregation between MLB and the negro league, whose to say there wasn't a barry bonds in the negro leagues.
69174
myself I think the deal about juicing has NEVER been proved. I mean come on people we are talking about a man that has played 20 years and has compiled some of the best stats EVER, and people want to trash everything he has done on whispers. Damn he started out on a crap team and lead it to be a contender. I think he has every god given right to be in the HOF. Look at some of the old timers in the hall... drunks, wife beaters, gamblers, I need not go on. I by far don't hate Barry and if most of the baseball public would get their heads out of their a$$es and get off the holier than thou seat they wouldn't either. Last I know he played in America ... ya know innocent until PROVEN guilty, and I don't mean people trying to make a quick buck with "tell all" books. Just my thoughts.....
381986
Your question is extremely interesting for several reasons.  First of all to answer your question, no, Cal Ripkin Jr. is on a different plain of baseball existence that McGwire.  Cal did it the right way and that makes all the difference.  McGwire took "Andro", among other HGH prior to the drugs being banned.  He admitted that in 1998 during a TV interview while pursuing Maris's record.  The problem I have is this.Whether the drugs were legal or illegal, McGwire knowingly took them, to take unfair advantage of his peers.  That is without honor as far as I'm concerned.  He should never be allowed in the hall of fame.  The integrity of the game is at stake and it's time the sports writers association be held accountable come the January vote.\n\nThe other aspect of McGwire getting into the hall would be what could only be considered a very uncomfortable situation in Cooperstown at the induction ceremony.  Can you imagine what that would be like?  How many hall of famers would actually show up knowing this guy cheated his way to Cooperstown?  And how about his acceptance speech?  Who would he thank, Squibb laboratories for the chemically enhanced home runs?\n\nI plan to attend the induction ceremonies in August because I've been a big fan of both Ripkin and Tony Gwynn.  I'd hate to see the weekend spoiled by the presence of Mark McGwire.
551695
It depends upon what standards one wants to use.  If we wanted to elect moral heroes to the Baseball Hall of Fame, then Barry Bonds would not be a good pick.  Aside from the debate about whether or not Mr. Bonds used steroids, Mr. Bonds is a nasty character in American sport.  He is a churlish boor.  \n\nHowever, one does not get into the Baseball Hall of Fame because of one's moral qualities per se.  The simple fact is that many members of the Baseball Hall of Fame were slimy characters.  Babe Ruth, for all of his home runs, was a lush. Ty Cobb would do anything to stretch a single into a double or to break up a double play--including spiking players.  Gaylord Perry was a cheater, too--he managed to doctor the baseball well enough to win 314 games.  But I hear no one say that he doesn't belong in the Baseball Hall of Fame.  And these are not the only examples...just a few I can think up off the top of my head.  \n\nMany people say that Barry Bonds took steroids.  Quite frankly, that is probably true...but he is not the only one.  I wonder how many pitchers took steroids or other substances to heal faster or to get that extra mile per hour on the fastball? I wonder how many pitchers today doctor the baseball (Kenny Rogers??)?  \n\nHere is an indisputable fact: Athletes since the times of ancient   Greece have done everything they could to advance themselves     within and without the rules of their sports.  If Mr. Bonds did take steroids, (which he may have taken and even if he had in the time frame in which he allegedly taken these chemicals they were not illegal to use in baseball at that time) then he simply did what other athletes have done.  \n\nSo, should Barry Bonds be in the Baseball Hall of Fame? Considering the moral qualities of many who have already been elected to this honor and his baseball acheivements, I reluctantly say yes.
591724
he shouldn't be declared as a record breaker.\nthe guy was on steroids, that's cheating.\n\nDEREK JETER ROCKS!
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.
254416
I always thought that Bonds had taken steroids, no matter what he said to defend himself. I agree what David Wells recently said about him. He thinks it's a crock that Bonds put something in his body unknowingly. I agree, it's pretty unlikely someone would put something in their body without knowing exactly what it is. I'm not a Bonds hater, I just don't like the fact that he's PROBABLY lying to everyone.\n\nBasically, he used to be a baseball hero, but not anymore.
332531
Bonds had his "best" years during his steroid days and long after most players retire. So it's not just HR production, his Avg was affected as well. Steroids are not the only issue. Bonds is under huge scrutiny now as he approaches records. He also is suffering from the bad press because of his steroid usage. Coming off a year of not playing is hard, when your well past the age or retirement for most players it's more so. So for Bonds to kick the steroids, recover his timing and battle both age and the press it's likely a bit too much for him. If Bonds had any class he'd retired rather than come back this year. He was busted for steroids but hadn't passed any cherished marks that he wouldn't have passed without steroids yet. Bonds could have quietly been just another steroid user and gone to the hall of fame. His coming back this year threw his cheating in people's faces.\n\nAs for people coming to the park. The biggest and best fan draw is a winning team. HR hitters are fan draws for losing teams. If a team is winning the fans will come. The loyal fans come no matter who is on the roster. The folks who show up for a Bonds like player are rather few actually and don't come for long. Especailly today when everybody hits home runs. It's not like the days of Ruth when there were 3-5 people in all of baseball who could hit 30+ home runs. There are that many players on single teams today with HR totals like that. The HR is losing what draw power it had pretty quickly.
195468
He is definitely worth it. People totally exaggerate the impact of steroids on the great baseball players. Yes, steroids probably helped Luis Gonzales hit 57 home-runs when he has never hit over 30 in any other season. But steroids have not caused Barry Bonds to hit more home-runs. Go back to his earliest days, and Barry was crushing home-runs. Barry's totals have improved largely because he has become extremely selective (never swinging at anything out of the strike zone), and because he continues to perfect his craft as a hitter. Barry rarely misses a mistake. We are talking about a man who hit over 50 home-runs in a year where he received more intentional walks than ARod received in his entire career...ARod!!!! As for Babe Ruth's single season and career home-run numbers, does anyone complain about the fact these records were made possible by ending the dead ball era? That's right...before 1921, the major league record for home-runs in a season was 16. Do you think athletes all starting doping in 1921? Actually, no. Major league baseball actually changed the baseball, making it travel farther when hit. So yes, Barry Bonds is worthy to break Babe Ruth's career home-run record...and Hank Aaron's for that matter.