Quote:
Originally Posted by Rainger99
The Hall of Fame (HOF) announced the results of the 2022 election yesterday. Players need 75% of the votes. David Ortiz was the only player admitted. He had 77.9% of the votes. It was the last year on the ballot for Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds.
Do people think that Clemens and Bonds (and Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe) should be in the HOF?
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Good question. But isn't selection to the Hall of Fame based on your accomplishments on the field? Despite what they did off the field, the on-field accomplishments of Shoeless Joe and Charlie Hustle were monumental. Pete's gambling included betting on his OWN team and Shoeless Joe Jackson not only hit .375 (not bad for a guy trying to lose) in the 1919 World Series but was later found innocent of any complicity in throwing the series.
Clemens and Bonds? Again, monumental achievements on the field. They took drugs to enhance their performance--but how is that different from the rigorous training, diet and other practices that world-class athletes go through today? THOSE practices were unknown in days past and even when more advanced and modern training techniques became available many did not use them. It is said that Babe Ruth trained on beer and hot dogs. Should the accomplishments of today's baseball stars be denigrated because their predecessors did not have the advantage of such advanced training and medical knowledge? Sort of disingenuous, if you ask me.
Put all four into the Hall. With explanations of their (real and alleged) misdeeds as part of their record.