http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1915940-until-barry-bonds-rogers-clements-are-voted-in-the-hall-of-fame-remains-a-joke

As a sports fan, it is interesting to watch the way a sport changes. Whether it is for the good or bad, the change is intriguing. I have seen the Steroid-Era in baseball come and go. The game was filled with pumped up players on any  PED they could use. There was no testing and there was no punishment for using the drugs. Well, Interestingly enough that is a heavy factor in whether or not to use something that could potentially enhance everything about your career.

It has been said by many former players that the use of these drugs during this Steroid-Era of baseball was common. There wasn’t a huge effort made by players using the drug to conceal what they were doing. It was around in the game and was an option for any player to utilize. PEDS. That was one abbreviation I will always associate with the baseball  era I watched growing up. You see a big guy hitting a lot of home runs, then he was probably juicing. That type of judgement rang heavy during this time for baseball. This article brings up the contrversial topic of whether or not steroid-users from this time should get into the hall of fame. While their numbers are hall of fame worthy, the use of Performance-Enhancing Drugs and steroids are not.

Dan Levy writes that the Hall of Fame would remain a “joke” until Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens are voted in. I would have to agree. I would not go as far as saying that the Hall of Fame is a joke, but the absence of these players and some others is suspect. For a number of years, these two were the absolute best in baseball. Bonds dominated pitchers and Clemens was an artist on the pitching mound. These are two guys who had Hall of Fame numbers before the steroid era began. As they played into this era and heavy accusations of PED use surrounded their career, they fell out of light in the public favor. The media was never shy to put up a story regarding a player and steroids. This association of the drugs and these players follows them forever. Bonds and Clemens will never get into the hall of fame unless there is an indication of the Steroid-Era. Baseball fans have different opinions of who should and should not get in. The best way to get these players in the Hall of Fame would be to simply indicate that these accomplishments were during this time.

If the Hall of Fame is more in favor of the so-called “integrity” of their players, over numbers then these guys will not get in. Ever. Neither will Pete Rose. I have no clue as to why he is not in the hall of fame. The guy has more hits than anyone in the planet and post-career decisions deny him entrance into the hall. It’s a damn shame. What makes a Hall of Famer worthy? Numbers and the integrity of the person? Strictly numbers? This is the underlying question and until a final decision is made, there will always be scrutiny.