Bonds and Clemens - HOF ?

[TreeTop]

Would you vote for Bonds and Clemens to be in the Hall of Fame?

There's no right or wrong answer, just curious to see how members of SP would vote.

 

[Jason Svoboda]

Yes. I know they took steroids. We are naive to think there are not multiple steroid users currently in the Hall of Fame. We also know amphetamine usage was widespread (and joked about) for over four decades and it is a performance enhancing substance. They help with fatigue, increase alertness, aggressiveness and reaction time. They are a perfect baseball drug.

I don't care that the MLB didn't ban them until 2005, the fact is they were used and if we're talking about the purity of the sport, all of those numbers achieved while players used them are invalid if you're holding the same argument with steroids. On top of that, they're FAR more dangerous than steroids -- laughably so. The hatred bestowed upon the "steroid era" is because those guys shattered home run records.

Further, Bonds and Clemens were HOFers BEFORE using steroids IMO. They simply used the advancements in science to remain competitive. The fact they were already the greatest at their positions only amplified it.

You want also know what's laughable. The Killer B's of the Astros. Bagwell is in despite being linked to PEDs. Then you have Craig Biggio. Guy comes up and is scrawny, has no pop and then in his 40s has massive forearms and is nearly 30 homers when he struggled to hit 10 in his 20s? Both guys were teammates of Ken Caminiti who is an admitted pusher and user? Let's look past those guys because they were legitimately good dudes off the field. If Bonds and Clemens were such absolute pricks off the field, especially to reporters and newsies, I have no doubts they'd already be in. If McGwire didn't own up and admit using PEDs, he'd be in, too. They should all be in. They saved baseball when it was dying and the MLB knew damn well what was going on.

 

[Jason Svoboda]

Just to add, I knew about amphetamine usage in baseball when I was in middle school after reading Bunting's Ball Four book. The Big Red Machine also routinely joked about "leaded" or unleaded coffee in the clubhouse. Those teams and guys are universally adored, considered all-time greats and several are in the HoF.

Absolute joke.

 

[meistro]

I don't have a problem putting them in as long as all cheaters can get in. Pete Rose

 

[BankShot]

Just to add, I knew about amphetamine usage in baseball when I was in middle school after reading Bunting's Ball Four book. The Big Red Machine also routinely joked about "leaded" or unleaded coffee in the clubhouse. Those teams and guys are universally adored, considered all-time greats and several are in the HoF.

Absolute joke.

Ya, and Joe Morgan acts as if the "Big Red Machine" were all saints! :thumbsdown:
https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports...-bonds-into-hall-of-fame-sammy-sosa-left-off/

Recall the season that McGuire & Sosa had that HR battle that virtually every media in America was covering? Don't think that MLB didn't profit from that, and weren't aware of the "chemi$try criSiS" in the game.

 

[SycamoreinTexas]

Baseball voters are hypocrites! They had no problem voting Bonds for MVP knowing he was taking steroids.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

162 games in 180 odd days. I’d use peds too if I had that kind of schedule.