Reinventing the Baseball Hall of Fame: Part 9

What will the voting members of the Baseball Writers Association of America do when the triumverate of Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, and Roger Clemens are added to the ballot for election to the Hall of Fame in 2013? What could have been the greatest class of inductees since the inaugural class may not see any of the three elected. Players accused of using steroids have previously received little support from the BBWAA, most notably Mark McGwire and his 583 Home Runs in 2007. The next three ballots will feature Roberto Alomar, Jeff Bagwell, and Rafael Palmeiro who are all worthy of being first-ballot inductees. Each has been linked to steroids, and it is possible that none of these players will be elected. Do any of the players from 'the Steroids Era' deserve to be members of the Hall of Fame?

The first player to use steroids was Hall of Fame pitcher James 'Pud' Galvin in 1889. He injected himself with the Brown-Sequard elixir, essentially glycerin with ground up animal testicles, before a game against Boston in which he performed well. Consuming animal testicles was not a new idea in 1889, as ancient Olympians consumed sheep testicles for a boost in testosterone. Even the great Babe Ruth has been accused of injecting himself with sheep testosterone. Before the 1925 season, Ruth became ill and suffered 'the bellyache heard round the world', which forced him to miss 56 games and he experienced his worst season with the Yankees. The press blamed the bellyache on Ruth's notorious binging on hot dogs, and some people believed it to be alcohol poisoning, but no one confirmed the exact nature of the illness which may have been caused by sheep testosterone.

Athletes during 'the Lively Ball Era' of the 1920s and 1930s tried every chemical imaginable to aid their performance, from animal gland extracts to cocaine. The modern athlete has tried many more performance enhancers including amphetamines, HGH, and steroids. European scientists developed synthetic steroids in the 1930s and Olympic athletes began using them in the 1950s after discovering their muscle building effect. The first known professional athlete to use steroids was Lyle Alzado of the Denver Broncos, who began using them in 1969 while still in college. Mark McGwire was the first baseball player to be found using steroids in 1998 when a reporter found androstenedione, a legal muscle building steroid, in his locker. Andro and most other performance enhancing drugs have since been banned by MLB in an effort to clean up the game.

Jose Canseco, in his 2005 book "Juiced...", claimed that up to 85% of all MLB players used steroids. He admitted to injecting many teammates with steroids including McGwire, whom he played with in Oakland at the beginning of his career. Burlingame, California which is close to Oakland, is home to the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO) which is infamous for supplying athletes with HGH and tetrahydrogestrinone (the Clear). Known customers of BALCO include Bonds, Jason Giambi, and Gary Sheffield who were all named in 'the Mitchell Report', an independant investigation into the use of anabolic steroids and HGH in Major League Baseball. Much of the report's focus was on clients of Mets' clubhouse employee Kirk Radomski and Yankees strength coach Brian McNamee, most famously Clemens.

In 2003, MLB conducted a drug test of 1200 players to determine whether a mandatory drug test was necessary. The players approved the testing after they were promised anonimity and no punishment for a positive result. After more than the predetermined limit of five percent of the players tested positive, MLB instituted a mandatory test in 2004. The list of 104 players who tested positive was part of the BALCO investigation and the samples were subpoenaed as part of the raid of Quest Diagnostics. Since the list is in the hands of federal agents and the samples were not destroyed, the anonimity of the players has been in jeopardy. Sports Illustrated writer Selena Roberts reported that Yankees star Alex Rodriguez had tested positive in 2003 while with the Rangers for Primobolan, the same steroid Bonds tested positive for in 2000 and 2001. Last month, Sammy Sosa was accused by the New York Times of being on the list, however no one has offered to comment.

McGwire set a rookie record of 49 Home Runs in 1987, during a dramatic increase in offense for both leagues, which MLB claimed was due to the use of a new baseball. After a return to normal for a few seasons, the hitting explosion returned in 1994, which not coincidentally was during negotiations between the owners and the players union that ultimately led to a strike. When the players returned in 1995, the offensive numbers improved and then went into the stratosphere in 1996 where they have remained since. Beginning with the Home Run chase by McGwire and Sosa in 1998, there have been 21 offensive records broken; 13 single season and eight career records. Bonds broke 12 records himself, including Home Runs in a season and in a career, cementing his place as the best baseball player of all time.

Single season performances by players since 1994 have been unbelievable, and 'the Steroids Era' has surpassed 'the Lively Ball Era' in hitting feats. The Home Run record was broken four times, in 1998 by McGwire and Sosa and McGwire again, and in 2001 by Bonds with a ridiculous 73 bombs. The era claims the top six totals (by Bonds, McGwire, and Sosa), 14 of the top 20, more than half of the 40 Home Run seasons in history, and 23 of the 41 seasons of 50 or more Home Runs. Bonds broke six other single season records, Slugging Percentage, On-Base Percentage, OPS, Walks, Intentional Walks, and At Bats per Home Run. 12 of the 36 times a player has had a .700 Slugging Pct, and 29 of the top 50 AB/HR years (including the top five) are claimed by Bonds and his peers. Other great seasonal achievements by players of the era include seven seasons (out of 29 in history) of 400 Total Bases, six (out of 15) of 100 Extra Base Hits, and 38 (out of 86) of 50 Doubles.

Career totals for 'Steroids Era' players have diminished the achievements of previous generation players. Most famously (or infamously) is Bonds' record of 762 Home Runs, seven more than Hank Aaron's 755. Ten of the 25 members of the 500 Home Run club, including five of the top ten (Bonds, Griffey, Sosa, McGwire, Rodriguez) played in the 90s and 00s, with five still active. Poor Fred McGriff hit 'only' 493 Home Runs which may not be enough to get him elected to the Hall of Fame, yet he is tied with Lou Gehrig for 26th all-time. McGwire broke Babe Ruth's record for AB/HR, and is joined in the top ten by six of his contemporaries. Bonds finished in the top ten in nearly every category for his career, and has the career records for Home Runs, Walks, Intentional Walks, and Runs Created. Other great career achievements by players of the era include 25 of the top 50 players for Slugging Pct, 13 of the top 50 for On Base Pct, and 23 of the top 50 for OPS.

Until all of the 104 players on the list that tested positive for steroids are revealed, fans and voters can only speculate who has taken illegal performance enhancers. Next year, Alomar may get elected, but what if he is found on the list after he is inducted? Will the Hall of Fame rescind his membership? Will the voters bypass anyone with the slightest suspicion of steroids use? Some in the BBWAA have voted for McGwire, who was a borderline worthy Hall of Famer. Will they, and more importantly other voters, elect Bonds, Sosa, and Clemens in 2013?

Bud Selig, the players union, and MLB are all responsible for allowing steroids use after a dismal period from 1991-1993. The bigger and stronger players created more offense, which created more fan interest, which created more money for owners and players. The players from 'the Steroids Era' should be elected to the Hall of Fame, without asterisks, without explanations on their plaques, or their own 'wing'. If the Hall of Fame can welcome players from 'the Lively Ball Era', gamblers, and criminals into its hallowed halls, then Bonds and company should be allowed to join them. What about Pete Rose...

Players from 'the Steroids Era' worthy of the Hall of Fame:
-Barry Bonds : Pirates/Giants OF
-Roger Clemens : Red Sox/Yankees P
-Mike Piazza : Dodgers C
-Sammy Sosa : Cubs Of
-Frank Thomas : White Sox 1B
-Roberto Alomar: Padres/Blue Jays/Indians/Orioles 2B
-Rafael Palmeiro : Rangers/Orioles 1B
-Mark McGwire : Athletics/Cardinals 1B
-Craig Biggio : Astros 2B
-Jeff Bagwell : Astros 1B
-Albert Belle : Indians OF
-Jeff Kent : Giants 2B