MLB network talked about Bonds/Clemens getting into the HOF last night. Always an interesting conversation. If you could (had to?) vote in one of these players, who would it be? (You can't say none of them)

 

1) Bonds

 

2) Clemens

 

3) McGwire

 

4) Shoeless Joe

 

5) Rose

If I had to vote for one it would be Bonds as he's the best and steroid use doesn't offend the game as much as the gambling and game throwing done by shoeless joe and Rose. 

 

But all of those players are actually in the HOF. They just don't have plaques. I would hope that if Bonds or Clemens or McGwire do eventually get in, the plaques mention the players role in the PED era.

I have few strong feelings about the HOF, but one of them is that Pete Rose should NEVER, EVER be inducted.

 

Nothing could be more corrosive to MLB than any perception that games are decided by anything other than the play on the field. Few things could be more corrosive than any perception gambling plays, or played, ANY role in determining outcomes.

 

Pete Rose was perhaps the most dangerous individual to the integrity of the game in the history of baseball. WAY worse than Shoeless Joe.

 

I wouldn't vote for Bonds or Clemens but I can understand  the arguments for them. McGwire is borderline anyway, IMO, so no.

 

 

The gambling aspect is much worse than the PED's in my view.  Like Chief said, it does far more damage to the integrity of the game.  Integrity in the hallowed numbers is one thing, but the game itself is a far larger aspect in my view.  If the game can't be taken seriously, what do you have left?  

 

Also, like Chief said I wouldn't vote for Bonds or Clemens or McGwire but I can understand, and even accept, the arguments for them.  I don't agree with them, but I at least understand the reasoning.  Of those three, I'd only really consider McGwire at this point because he was at least (eventually) honest about it.

 

I'm also of the ilk that believe that Bonds and Clemens were surefire HoF players before their PED surges.  Obviously I have no way to really know when they started, but I do believe there is a pretty clear starting point.  McGwire is much more difficult to determine, IMO.