Steroids in the Hall of Fame?

Mark McGwire / Wikimedia Commons

Many players put up statistically remarkable careers during the "steroid era." Now that many of the implicated players career's are over or coming to an end, Major League Baseball faces two major questions; how to deal with their records and if they should be eligible to be elected to the Hall of Fame. There are differing opinions as to how this situation should be handled; however, the most important thing is to have a consistent ruling across the board. This prevents writers and fans alike from having to pass judgment on the severity of individual players drug abuse.

The rule that should be imposed in Major League Baseball, which could be used in other sports as well, is only if the athlete has failed an official drug test administrated by the league would have their records erased and be ineligible for the Hll of Fame. This would mean that players who have just been rumored or implicated in drug use would be given the benefit of the doubt. For example Mark McGwire has never failed an official drug test but it is widely believed that he has used performance enhancing drugs. Therefore under this policy Mcwire would keep his records and not be penalized in Hall of Fame voting.

This solution is not perfect because during much of the steroid era players were not suspended for a first positive drug test so it was not made public when a player failed their first tests. Of the players suspended for steroid use, only Manny Ramirez and Rafael Palmeiro would have received serious consideration for the Hall of Fame. Under this policy Barry Bonds would not be eligible for the Hall of Fame, because although he was not suspended, he had a positive test for amphetamines which did not warrant a suspension for the first time offense. However, players such as Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa, and Alex Rodriguez would still retain their records and be treated as any other player would be in Hall of Fame Voting.

Even though the past is cloudy and this policy may allow some drug abusers into the Hall of Fame, it would accomplish the most important goal which is to judge every player equally and prevent Hall of Fame voters from having to decide whether the athlete was guilty.



Contributed to by Haoli Mei.