Well it is a tough counterfactual because a pretty high percentage of everyone in MLB was probably using some sort of PED at some point in the (Selig) PED-era, not just the big names. It stands to reason that the guys closer to the dreaded "replacement level" were more compelled to use than more 'naturally gifted' guys.
Anyway Bonds (for sure) and Clemens (probably) make it absent their ("alleged") use of PEDs. In a PED-free world less career achievement would have been acceptable -- one of the things that the PEDs did for the better players was enable them to keep at it longer.... provided that they also put in the work (like Bonds).
I think that McGwire would have made it -- eventually -- as a sort of Ralph Kiner type... big power peak with high HR/plate appearance.
Sosa is a tougher call. He seems like a 30/30 guy without the "help" who would have put up fewer homers more SBs...His charisma (which is not a PED thing) might have gotten him over the hump in a world where he has 400 HRs -- which would still be a lot.
I feel like Palmeiro would get it too.
Sheffield, IROD, AROD and Manny all get in with lower numbers -- I feel like these guys were so much more gifted than the average player that they would have made too. IROD and AROD were hard-workers and top-notch fielders and dont think the PEDs necessarily helped them as much.
BTW : Jeff Kent wouldn't have gotten to bat with the SF Giants Bonds so he might now have put up the numbers that supported his selection a few days ago (the HRs and the MVP award).
Jim Thome and Frank Thomas who didn't use, would be held in even higher acclaim than they are now. Thomas the most frightening batters I'd ever seen before McGwire and (especially) Bonds took the thing to a whole new level...
Current guys like Judge and Ohtani would look even better than they do now.
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12-09-2025, 05:50 PM
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