<p>I am not sure why players are judged on integrity instead of how the players actually play.</p>
<p>Barry Bonds and Roger Clemons were hall of famers before they bulked up.
Craig Biggio, Jack Morris, Jeff Bagwell, Curt Schilling, Tim Raines, and Mike Piazza were great. Yet none were voted in…</p>
<p>Maybe it is time to let Pete Rose in too.</p>
<p>I don’t see how this helps mlb by keeping these players out.</p>
<p>Looks like Mark Mcgwire is never getting into the hall. The guy barely received any votes.</p>
<p>Next year Greg Maddox and Tom Glavine are eligible. </p>
<p>It is going to be a very crowded field next year.</p>
<p>I think Pete should be in! The hall of Fame is full of racist, drug addicted and alcoholics so let the gambler in too. And by the way Biggio should have gotten in.</p>
<p>Agree or not, the Baseball Hall of Fame election requirements/guidelines contain a character clause. It’s the only sport that does. As a parent who was raising two baseball players during the steroid generation, I’m glad they didn’t get the votes. Those players cheated the game.</p>
<p>There will always be differences of opinion about this.</p>
<p>But the players (and their apologists) can’t have it both ways.
They can’t say there’s nothing wrong with what they did and, at the same time, lie about it.
If they truly believed it was ok, Bonds, McGwire, Clemons, etc. just should said “Yup, I did 'roids. It helped and there was no rule against it. So no big deal.”</p>
<p>But they didn’t.
They all lied about it.
And they all lied about using because . . .</p>
<p>You can say there is something wrong with what you did, and you are going to be voted into the hall anyway.
Are some of you saying Bonds and Clemens should never ever get into the hall of fame?</p>
<p>I don’t get the Piazza slight. When he was playing, there was zero suggestion of roids; now, it’s being allegated with no evidence. Not at all like McGuire or Bonds or Clemons. It seems like he is being tarred by being good at the wrong time. But when he was playing, he was “future Hall of Famer Mike Piazza.” I think it’s a real shame they are grouping everyone together, despite the proof or close to it for some, and the vague, why not rumors on others.</p>
<p>I completely agree. On a side note, I am in favor of admittance for Pete Rose, it’s been long enough. Even as the cantankerous conceited blowhard that he was and is, honest records mean something. And Rose’s playing record is honest.</p>
<p>Pete Rose should only make the Hall of Fame after he dies. The first rule in baseball is no betting. He was the manager and betting while he was in the dugout. He was betting big time money. It is a huge violation of baseball rules. While I admit his stats more than qualify him for the Hall of Fame, his gambling simply disqualifies him. It is much worse than any steroid use, in my opinion. </p>
<p>Let him in after he dies. Then he gets absolutely no glory and no satisfaction for his actions. It also sends a loud message that no player is above the rules. I would let Shoeless Joe Jackson in before I would ever let Pete Rose into the Hall of Fame.</p>
<p>Those guys and others made a mockery of the game. It should not be rewarded. They made their choices and to reward it sends the wrong message to current minor league players who are still walking that line of chemical aids to try to break through.</p>
<p>Florida spring training camps will be in full swing in one month. Pete Rose used to go to the little Tampa Bay Downs horsetrack almost daily when he was down here with the Reds. 85 degrees today in Tampa!</p>
<p>As an aside, I live very near Cooperstown ( same county) and this is very bad news for induction weekend and our local economy.</p>
<p>My H thinks they should have two sections in the Hall of Fame. One for players who did it on their own and one for dopers (or maybe some category that could also include Rose). Not all players who take performance improving drugs end up being great. So this would be the Hall for great dopers.</p>
<p>Pete Rose is often here for induction weekend raking in lots of money autographing. People love him.</p>
<p>My big problem with Bonds and Clemons is precisely that they didn’t need to dope to be hall of famers. They cheated not to win for their team, but to enhance their own images, their own sense of worth. They doubly cheated the game by depriving us all and THEMSELVES of knowing their true talent.</p>
<p>I will not deny that Biggio will make the HOF but I would rather have Bernie Williams, Keith Hernandez, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy or Albert Belle on my team. None will make the HOF and all were better players. There are many others- for the old guys Richie Allen.For you dstark- Will Clark also</p>