Quote:
Originally Posted by seanofjapan
I think with both Bonds and Clemens they were the among the best players of their generation long before they are suspected of starting PED use and there seems little question that absent career ending injury (which neither ultimately suffered) they were on their way to HOF careers regardless. Bonds already had almost 500 career home runs by 2001 when he is believed to have started using.
With other guys the case is way less clear and I could see using PED use as a factor in voting against them on that basis.
|
Let me preface this by stating that I am in favor of Bonds and Clemens making the Hall of Fame.
The idea that their early-career accomplishments would have gotten them in the Hall doesn't work for me, though. It's analogous to saying Pete Rose's early-career record should have gotten him in. It's almost like suggesting we can ignore a portion of someone's resume.
While I'm on the topic, Pete belongs in the hall, too.
Holding professional athletes to incredibly high
moral and performance standards would make for a very "Small Hall." As someone wrote earlier, it would basically be Christy Mathewson and a handful of others. While I can see the appeal of having only the best-of-the-best-of-the-best enshrined in the HOF, my personal preference is a bit different.
I'm more of a "Big Hall" fan. The game is over 150 years old. Let's celebrate more than the half-dozen or so from that span who are (quoting Tom Hulce)
"people so lofty they sound as if they shit marble."