Should PED Users, Pete Rose, and/or Shoeless Joe be in the Hall of Fame?

[Steve_424]

The ESPN "Long Gone Summer" documentary has reignited the debate. I'm curious to hear everyone's thoughts. Vote in the poll with who should/shouldn't be in.

 

[bob2the2nd]

pete rose without a doubt should be in the HoF.

 

[Derek]

Looks like I voted for everybody the same as you except I added Manny. So, he's the one I'll defend.

Best RH hitter I have ever seen. He was far more than just a power guy. He was a special talent.

I considered Big Mac on my list, but his career was trending in the wrong direction (due to injuries) prior to his known steroid use.

 

[JDailey23]

Bonds. Dude was just an unbelievable player.
He was HOF worthy before going to the Giants IMO.
I think all the steroid era guys deserve it, except Raf, I was never impressed.

 

[Derek]

Also, while I voted to have Pete in the Hall, I've realized recently why the hammer was brought down on him so hard despite supposedly never having voted against the Reds.

Even betting on your own team creates a conflict of interest. We all know that Tito manages differently in October than in May, but if you have money on the game, maybe you ride that pitcher an extra-inning in a game in May.

And what about the games he didn't bet on? That gives the appearance that he may now manage differently, or play different players, or maybe he lacked confidence in that day's starter due to an undisclosed minor injury.

There were a lot of factors that went into play, and I now understand why he was dealt with so harshly. That said, put him in the Hall. Keeping him out of the Hall really just punishes the fans.

 

[Derek]

Bonds. Dude was just an unbelievable player.
He was HOF worthy before going to the Giants IMO.
I think all the steroid era guys deserve it, except Raf, I was never impressed.

I enjoyed seeing Raf win a gold glove at 1B when he was the team's primary DH.

 

[Benway]

My qualification for inclusion in the Hall of Fame is brief: Are you famous?

 

[prf100]

I voted almost entirely on the basis of who are jerks (should not get in) and who are not jerks (should get in). I have a much easier time excusing PED use from seemingly good guys (McGwire, Sosa, Ramirez), who have been denied immediate HOF induction, then jerks (Bonds, ARod, Clemens) who were just straight up unlikeable.
The exceptions:
Palmeiro I voted as not getting in, even though he seemed like a good guy. But being all indignant about not using PEDs in front of congress, then getting busted... really lame.
Rose bet on baseball. There's no coming back from that.
Shoeless Joe is dead. So he can get in now.

 

[LL3]

Looks like I voted for everybody the same as you except I added Manny. So, he's the one I'll defend.

Best RH hitter I have ever seen. He was far more than just a power guy. He was a special talent.

I considered Big Mac on my list, but his career was trending in the wrong direction (due to injuries) prior to his known steroid use.

Yours is almost exactly the same as my take on Manny...clearly you are correct, He had the prettiest right handed swing I have seen in my relatively long life time. Weird dude, but so it goes...

 

[FiveThous]

I loved Gary Sheffield when I was a kid, but I don't recall him being considered for the HOF, can someone fill me in?

 

[Urban]

I loved Gary Sheffield when I was a kid, but I don't recall him being considered for the HOF, can someone fill me in?

His career statistics are certainly HOF worthy

.292 / . 393 / .514 career slash line
62.1 WAR despite being pretty awful defensively
509 HR
2689 Hits

Steroids have certainly tanked his chances, but he did show a promising surge in votes last year at 30.2%. I think he has 4 chances left and it will be interesting to see. Bonds and Clemens only have 2 more chances to get in. Each received a greater percentage of votes back in 2013 than Sheffield did in 2020. Those guys getting in could be a big turning point but he's still pretty damn far away with only 4 more years.

 

[JDailey23]

I voted almost entirely on the basis of who are jerks (should not get in) and who are not jerks (should get in). I have a much easier time excusing PED use from seemingly good guys (McGwire, Sosa, Ramirez), who have been denied immediate HOF induction, then jerks (Bonds, ARod, Clemens) who were just straight up unlikeable.
The exceptions:
Palmeiro I voted as not getting in, even though he seemed like a good guy. But being all indignant about not using PEDs in front of congress, then getting busted... really lame.
Rose bet on baseball. There's no coming back from that.
Shoeless Joe is dead. So he can get in now.

That’s the exact reason he isn’t in. Writers make it personal. If you never knew who he was or ever heard him speak, he’d be unanimous.

 

[FiveThous]

His career statistics are certainly HOF worthy

.292 / . 393 / .514 career slash line
62.1 WAR despite being pretty awful defensively
509 HR
2689 Hits

Steroids have certainly tanked his chances, but he did show a promising surge in votes last year at 30.2%. I think he has 4 chances left and it will be interesting to see. Bonds and Clemens only have 2 more chances to get in. Each received a greater percentage of votes back in 2013 than Sheffield did in 2020. Those guys getting in could be a big turning point but he's still pretty damn far away with only 4 more years.

Damn, he was even better than I remembered!

 

[Mr. Orange]

McGwire and Sosa I think belong in. Those two are in a class of their own. I mean you say their names like Lennon and McCartney. Never one without the other. They saved baseball.

Bonds and Clemens are assholes driven by ego. Fuck em.

Manny and ARod were just so talented. I put them in.

I think Pete Rose is a good lesson and shouldn’t be in. Same with Shoeless.

Sheffield? Nah. Palmero? Not after his act at
Congress.

Not on the list but Thome? He def juiced but he is a nice guy. Probably final ballot.

 

[Out of the Rafters at the Q]

Not on the list but Thome? He def juiced but he is a nice guy. Probably final ballot.

Dude was elected in on his first ballot in 2018.