Column: If Barry Bonds isn't a Hall of Famer by the end of the day, it's a failure by the HOF

[Bleacher Creature]

Link to tweet

I agree with this 100%. Bonds was clearly a Hall of Famer before he was ever reported to take PEDs. There are also some incredibly odious people in the Hall of Fame who've done far worse. Bonds is easily one of the five best hitters who ever lived, and his exclusion is absolutely ridiculous.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

1. Yeah even though I'm from the Bay, I dunno that I'd go this far ...

I think it's debatable.

"Bonds was clearly a Hall of Famer before he was ever reported to take PED"

Again, not so sure about that.

But that's just me

I'm good with trusting the HoF to do (at least something approaching) the right thing.

[Casady1]

7. He certainly was

and you trust sportswriters?

[Bleacher Creature]

8. I think the consensus is that he first started taking PEDs in 1999.

Here's a blurb from a Washington Post article looking at his stats before that time period.

If his career had ended in 1998, Bonds would be a .290 hitter with 411 home runs, 1,917 hits, 1,216 RBI, 1,357 walks (289 intentional) and a .966 OPS (164 OPS+). There are four other players eligible for the Hall of Fame with at least 400 home runs and 1,900 hits combined with a .290 career average and 160 career OPS+, all are enshrined in Cooperstown — Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Jimmie Foxx and Ted Williams.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fancy-stats/wp/2017/01/17/if-barry-bonds-ended-his-career-before-steroid-use-hed-be-a-clear-hall-of-famer/

[Hugh_Lebowski]

9. Fair enough, I guess what I'm questioning is whether the 'reported' use is really when it started

And I do think it's not unreasonable for there to be a penalty for having used them for years while still playing.

I'm fine with him getting in, but if the HoF decides not to, I'm not going to view it as a major travesty.

[Fiendish Thingy]

13. But he didn't, and his eligibility should be judged on his *whole* career

Just like Pete Rose.

[madville]

2. Nope

He ruined his own legacy with the steroid use and years of legal trouble caused by him trying to evade answering questions truthfully about it.

I his career and single season HR records should be removed from the books also. McGuire and Sosa should also have theirs stricken from the record books.

[overleft]

3. Amen!

[Casady1]

6. What are your feelings

on Pudge and Ortiz?

[madville]

11. Be consistent

If the offense is similar, no HOF, no record books. Same for Clemens too.

[Casady1]

12. do you know

if Pudge or Ortiz took steroids or are you just a casual fan?

[madville]

16. I didn't mention them specifically, you tell me

But no lol, just as most others I don’t have intimate detailed first hand knowledge of the hundreds of players that allegedly used steroids during that era. Some have admitted it openly, some blatantly lied about it under oath and in front of Congress, some still deny it to this day.

In the end, it’s up to the HOF voters to judge as far as getting in there, our opinions don’t matter.

[Casady1]

19. So you basically know nothing

about baseball but you are passing your opinion on with no facts. Sounds kind of republican.

[madville]

20. Keep your blinders on if you wish

Obviously some can do no wrong in your eyes and shouldn’t suffer any consequences, gee, what’s that sound like…….lol

[Casady1]

21. I have been following baseball

Since 1959 and my dad took me to Ebbets field in 1955. I was in the Cardinals clubhouse on Stan Musial night in the Polo grounds in 1963. I stole the home plate in the bullpen in 1965 and I saw Luis Tiant’s first game in the majors. If there is one steroid player who deserves to be in the HOF it is Bonds. He only took them because people like McQuire and Sosa were being heralded while Bonds was not getting the adulation he deserved. So I asked you about Pudge and Ortiz because they both did steroids. For my money so did Piazza and Bagwell. My friend played with Bagwell in the summer leagues for college players and Bagwell was not a HR hitter. I think Clemens was pretty much washed up before Steroids. The Red Sox had dropped him. He had lost his fastball and once you lose it you never get it back.

[SCantiGOP]

15. I agree

You cheat, you disqualify yourself.
Bonds, Rose, all of them should be DQed.

[ms liberty]

4. No, no he doesn't. n/t

[unweird]

5. *

* nope

[Fiendish Thingy]

10. No fucking way. Bonds, Canseco and McGwire nearly destroyed the sport

The only thing Bonds deserves is one giant, neon asterisk.

*

[Casady1]

14. How do you feel

about Ortiz and Pudge?

[Bleacher Creature]

18. That's what I don't get either.

Ortiz is likely to get in someday, even though his name has been linked to PEDs, which is the case for Bonds and Clemens. A-Rod and McGwire both admitted to it, although A-Rod is another one who would have gotten in without them.

And where do you draw the line? For example, what would people do if Albert Pujols suddenly started taking PEDs to try and get one last year of below average hitting. Does that last year negate everything else he's done?

I'm fine with having an asterisk on his plaque and a discussion of the allegations, but it's crazy to me that Bonds isn't in.

[Capt. America]

22. x1000!

[Xoan]

17. Sometimes cheaters don't win.