Steroid Use, HRs, and the MLB Hall of Fame

While filling out my hypothetical ballot for the 2022 MLB Hall of Fame class, it became clear that, as in year’s past, the use of steroids will be the make or break for many of the players.

It’s hard to say no to certain players and yes to other players when it comes to allowing steroid users into Cooperstown. When you have players like Ivan Rodriguez, Tim Raines, Jeff Bagwell, and Mike Piazza, all long-time suspected steroid users, in the hall of fame, but players like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Sammy Sosa seemingly barred from being allowed into the hall of fame, one can understand the frustration many fans voice. Arguably, all three of the latter players are better than the former.

The counter arguments do make some sense, I won’t deny that. People like Fred McGriff or Frank Thomas were clean their entire careers but could have been as good as or better than their competitors hitting 70+ home runs in a season with steroids. Especially in the case of McGriff, who despite an impressive 19-year career, wasn’t voted into Cooperstown while still eligible. I don’t want to detract from the accomplishments of people like McGriff, but the fact is that steroids were rampant throughout baseball during the late 90s into the early 2000s. Disallowing an entire era of baseball players, many of whom set astronomical records and helped changed the game, from joining the Baseball Hall of Fame would be blatantly ignoring a very real period of history in favor of unnecessary moral superiority.

When it comes to hitting, one thing specifically comes to mind with steroid users: their career home run total. Looking at the list of players with the most career home runs is pretty interesting when broken down by hall of fame status and suspected steroid use, especially this year, where Bonds and Sosa are in their final year of HOF ballot eligibility.

From that list of the top 50 career HR leaders, we find that:

– 28 are in the Hall of Fame
– 7 players are currently on the 2022 ballot
– 3 players are currently active
– 10 players did not make the Hall of Fame
– 2 players are currently ineligible to be on the ballot

Looking at the use of steroids on that list finds that:

– 14 are confirmed or suspected to be confirmed of steroid use.
– 6 are confirmed of not using steroid
– 3 are unknown/no definitive conclusion has been made

That means that 7 of the top 20 all time HR leaders are confirmed steroid users. Many of them during a time when it was not illegal in baseball. By no means am I arguing that steroid use is okay, but the vast majority of the players on this list (even Alex Rodriguez who deserves an article al by himself for his steroid use) should be in the Hall of Fame. The holier than thou attitude that so many baseball writers have is detrimental to the game. Barry Bonds won 7 MVP awards. He has the highest WAR of all time. He finished the 2005 season with an OBP greater than .600. Top that off with the most home runs ever and 8 gold glove awards, Bonds is by far the most deserving player not currently in the hall of fame, steroid use or not.

As for some of the others on the list, I can understand why A-Rod or Manny Ramirez might not get in. I understand why Rafael Palmeiro or Jose Canseco didn’t get in. Perhaps the hardest part of the Hall of Fame vote is the idea of comparing current day baseball conditions with that of 20 years ago, 50 years ago, and 100 years ago. It’s an impossible task but is so evident of many BBWA members’ votes. Pitchers weren’t throwing baseballs 100+ mph while Babe Ruth hit 714 home runs. It’s an impossible task but it’s evident that the effort to contextualize the various eras of baseball simply for the good of the game has been both hypocritical and severely lacking by the BBWA over the last 10 years.

For those interested, here’s my hypothetical HOF ballot for the 2022 class. I’m a biased Red Sox fan but did my best to remain as neutral as possible. I think Jimmy Rollins, Tim Hudson, Omar Vizquel, and possibly Gary Sheffield will have a good chance in future years, but not this year.