MLB

I hope that the Baseball Writers Association of America is happy with themselves right now.

Despite voting on what was widely regarded as the most loaded ballot in decades, the 569 members of the BBWAA who voted on the Hall of Fame failed to induct a player for the first time since 1996. 

Many voters are unclear how to handle the influx of players suspected of using performance-enhancing drugs, which this year included big names like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.  Other voters want to punish those players, and decided to take it out on the entire generation. 

On a day many Major League Baseball fans await for besides Opening Day of the coming season turned out to be one many wish never came. On January 9th, 2013 the Baseball Writers of America’s results for the 2013 Hall of Fame class were announced. Many believed with the most well known class and high talented class in years put on the ballot for the first time that we could see one or more added to baseball’s glory of a museum. Even with the “steroid” and “PED” name tagged all over this class fans believed at least one would get in. In the end we saw NONE! Not ONE! Not even ONE! And for this passionate and die-hard fan of America’s past time since I was born I feel let down by the game and the people who write about this sport in which I love.

Happy New Year, everybody!  Now that the calendar has turned, we are only days away from the announcement of the results of this year’s Hall of Fame voting for Major League Baseball. 

Seems like as good a time as any to make the case for my list of candidates.

I must be clear on this:  I do not have an official ballot for the MLB Hall of Fame, and that is unlikely to change for a very long time.  This is merely a look at how exactly I would vote, and why I would select each candidate.  I am going by the current rules, meaning that I can vote for only ten players and will only select from players currently on the ballot.

Before I continue, I must point out which candidates just missed the list: 

1.  Sammy Sosa

2.  Rafael Palmeiro

3.  Kenny Lofton

With the arrival of names like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Sammy Sosa onto the ballot, this year’s Hall of Fame voting figures to be the most anticipated (or dreaded, depending on who you ask) in the history of the famed institution.   

Many voters out there seem to be at a loss over what to do with players suspected of PEDs, which has resulted in the rejection of virtually any eligible player even suspected of usage during their career.  It has also led to voters increasing the pressure for an official position from the Hall of Fame with regard to PED users, which in theory would give voters more guidance on whom they should induct on future ballots.

But what if I told you that the Hall of Fame already has an official policy on PED users – and that it has been in place for longer than the game’s current testing program?

I’ll throw this out there right now:  If I had a ballot for the Hall of Fame, I would not hesitate to vote either Barry Bonds or Roger Clemens.

However, if recent surveys among HOF voters are any indication, my opinion appears to be in the minority. Both Bonds and Clemens have significant ties to PED usage, and the current electorate does not appear to be softening its stance in denying PED users induction into the Hall.