Hall of Shame

Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. were elected to the Hall of Fame yesterday, a deserved reward for two legends of the game of baseball.

Of course, that wasn't the big story of the day.

It was Mark McGwire not making the Hall. The cloud of suspicion that surrounds him for taking steroids in his pursuit to break the single season home run record and his non-denial in front of Congress has made him a poster boy of the Juiced-era.

Looking at McGwire's stats, it's hard NOT to put him in the Hall. 583 homers, 1414 RBIs and a career .394 on-base percentage, not to mention the reputation as the most feared premier right handed hitter in the game. He was a 12 time All-Star and was Rookie of the Year in 1987.

If we're going to keep McGwire out, then we have to take guys out of the Hall of Fame. Gaylord Perry admitted he used vasoline and doctored baseballs on the mound. He also happens to be a 300 game winner. Ty Cobb was one of the most racist men to ever live, but he's enshrined in the Hall.

I generally believe fans actually do care about players using steroids, that there is some type of moral outrage that players would disgrace the game of baseball for their performance enhancement. No one wants to see a bunch of 'roided up home run hitters. BTW, notice the teams that have been winning the World Series lately? Teams that pitch well and play defense. Anyway, baseball needs to take the steroid issue seriously before other people take baseball seriously. How does Mota get a two year contract from the Mets when he gets caught with performance enhancing drugs?

So here it is. If you're going to deny the steroid users of this era entry to the Hall, say so, leave 'em out like Pete Rose. But first, clean up the game to make sure that statistical anomalies like McGwire take advantage of it.