Baseball: Should PED Users Be Allowed in the MLB Hall of Fame?

710 Words2 Pages

Should PED Users Be Allowed in the MLB Hall of Fame?
In the late 80s to mid-2000s, steroids changed the way baseball was played. It became known as “The Steroid Era,” and it is a part of history that baseball wants to forget. The players during this time did some of the greatest things to ever happen to baseball such as Barry Bonds breaking the single season homerun record with 73, and Roger Clemens winning his record seventh Cy Young Award (Ortiz). These are Hall of Fame worthy stats, but they have a very slim chance of ever getting into the Hall of Fame because they are linked to using Performance Enhancement Drugs. These players should be allowed into the Hall of Fame because of their accomplishments, but they need to have a wing dedicated to “The Steroid Era” players because conditions change so dramatically in different eras that it is hard to compare them to players now (Ringolsby). Even though PED users cheated the game, they should be allowed into the Hall of Fame if they have their own wing. They played in a different era than the players now, and it is hard to compare the different eras.
Players since the beginning of baseball have used some type of drug to enhance their game such as in 1889 Pud Galvin ingested monkey testosterone and Grover Cleveland Alexander used banned alcohol to enhance his game (Chafets). This should prove that baseball will never fully stop the use of PEDs, they can only cover up the ones that have. As Zev Chafets puts it “Chemical enhancement won’t kill the game; it is the cover-up that could be fatal” (Chafets). This cover up will ultimately hurt the game of baseball so the league should give the players the opportunity to use the PEDs, and if they choose not to then that is their decision ...

... middle of paper ...

...merio should have been a Hall of Famer, but since he was linked to PEDs he will never be in the HOF, but should be. Players every year are slowly falling of the ballot because they were linked to PEDs, but should be in the HOF.
If players did things that are worthy of being in the HOF then they should be recognized for them. There needs to be a wing added for the “The Steroid Era” because players during that era maybe would not have used PEDs if they had played back in another era. These players did cheat the game, but they just did what was happening during their era. Baseball cannot hide from its past, and should not keep trying to cover it up because it will just keep leading to more argument. The MLB and MLB HOF need to accept the dark history of baseball, and compare these players to the players of their own era, and give them the recognition they deserve.

Show More
Related

  • Babe Ruth: Steroids In Baseball's Hall Of Fame

    1355 Words  | 3 Pages

    Babe Ruth. Hank Aaron. Nolan Ryan. Cal Ripken Jr. These outstanding Major League Baseball players deservedly earned their spot in baseball’s Hall of Fame. Hank Aaron held the league’s home run record with 755 for 33 years, until it was broken by Barry Bonds at the height of the steroid era (Andy). Aaron has never been accused of steroid use; however, Bonds has. Nolan Ryan can be found at the top of the all-time strikeout list, but Roger Clemens is not far behind. Once again, the former has never been proven to have been on steroids, while the latter was found guilty. It is not fair to the players who achieved their greatness on their own merit to be surpassed, or even grouped alongside, those who cheated the game. The Hall of Fame needs to

    Read More

  • Anabolic Steroids are Ruining Major League Baseball

    1233 Words  | 3 Pages

    The biggest change which would make the players seriously think about taking anabolic steroids revolves around the consequences for taking these drugs. The consequences for taking steroids have to be much stronger than they are now. For the first positive test, I would like the player to be suspended for one full season. Hopefully losing a year’s worth of salary would stop them from ever using the steroids again. If there is a second offense, I feel the player should be given a lifetime ban from the MLB. Yes this is much tougher than the current policy, but the player has cheated at his profession. They were given another chance and they ruined it, so they deserve to be given a lifetime ban.

    Read More

  • Pete Rose Baseball Scandal

    1592 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...as fulfilled part of its duty by banning Rose for over 20 years; it has failed to acknowledge his on the field contributions. MLB has the duty of honoring the greatest players in baseball and those who are record setters; clearly Pete Rose fits into both of these categories. As the holder of multiple MLB career records as well as being considered one of the greatest players ever, Pete Rose has clearly made his mark on baseball. Thus, it is MLB’s duty to honor him for his accomplishments. MLB must now fulfill its second duty and reinstate Pete Rose so he can be acknowledge for his on the field play. With Kantian ethics, MLB’s sense of duty to the game requires the punishment of Rose, as well as the acknowledgement of him in the hall. With the time spent banned MLB has fulfilled one duty and must now allow Pete Rose in the hall to fulfill their duty to the game.

    Read More

  • Anabolic Steroid Use in Baseball

    664 Words  | 2 Pages

    Baseball?s reputation has been painted with a red asterisk. The non-medical use of steroids has been banned according to the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990. Many baseball athletes have been caught or presumed illegal users of HGH or Steroids since the act passed in 1990. All these athletes have one thing in common, they want to have an edge or advantage on the game. Some athletes even admit to administering the drug to other athletes and themselves. Jose Conseco testified to personally injecting the steroids into Mark McGuire (Cote).

    Read More

  • Steroids in Baseball

    2573 Words  | 6 Pages

    Steroids in baseball need to stop immediately before the game is over. Steroids are not fair to the players who play the game the way it’s supposed to be played, without syringes. Steroids are ruining the fairness of the game of baseball and the credibility of the athletes participating. These days, if someone hits fifty home runs in a season, everyone thinks they are on the “juice”. “The Steroid Era” and Bud Selig have ruined baseball’s image as a clean and fair game.

    Read More

  • Steroids Impact on Major League Baseball

    1617 Words  | 4 Pages

    Since at least the 1980’s performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) have been a major challenge in the world of Major League Baseball, and past trends indicate they will continue to pose an ongoing problem. A number of the most prominent and accomplished professional baseball players, such as Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Jason Giambi, Roger Clemens, are also the most famous examples of baseball players who have broken longstanding records, attracted countless numbers of fans, and allegedly have taken performance-enhancing drugs. Athletes who have been caught using steroids in order to increase and better their performance rates have been suspended, fined and traded from the teams on which they once played. Despite the punitive actions taken against them by the League and lawmakers, players continue to use performance-enhancing drugs and likely will continue to do so, because the associated athletic effects will draw more fans and bring more money to the individual player and franchise.

    Read More

  • Pete Rose: Major League Baseball Hall Of Fame

    894 Words  | 2 Pages

    What would you say if I told you the baseball player with the most hits, at-bats, singles, and games played of all time is still not in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame? He’s a former MVP of the league and rookie of the year; he’s a three time World Series champion; and the recipient of two Gold Gloves and three batting titles. Now, if his resume wasn’t full enough, he has also made 17 All-Star appearances. I’m sure you’re asking yourself, how can this man not be in the Hall of Fame? Well if you look in the Major League Baseball Rule Book under section (d), paragraph two, you will read; “Any player, umpire, club, league official, or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform shall be declared permanently ineligible” (Leppard 1). That is the

    Read More

  • Shoeless Joe Jackson

    677 Words  | 2 Pages

    Could you imagine being an essential part of the 1919 “Black” Sox scandal during a time of great American baseball and music? He was an inspiration to many. He played a major role in the 1919 World Series and was the best baseball hitter of all time. Certainly Shoeless Joe Jackson knew about the fix of the 1919 World Series but is performance further proves his innocence; therefore, he should be allowed to enter the Baseball Hall of Fame.

    Read More

  • Illegal Substances in Baseball

    1014 Words  | 3 Pages

    Close your eyes for a moment. Picture you are a little kid on a baseball field playing the sport you love. Now picture twenty years beyond that point, you are in the major leagues and you are the best. It is a tight race in the Most Valuable Player award race and you lose by just a few votes. Come to find out the person you lost to is taking an illegal banned substance connected with HGH. You had the award you had been working for and dreaming of receiving stolen away from you. Steroids and HGH have ruined how many see the game today and not only that but they are causing serious harm to the athletes that take them. Therefore these substances should be banned and made illegal in all baseball leagues for good.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of The National Baseball Hall Of Fame

    2336 Words  | 5 Pages

    The National Baseball Hall of Fame is an American history museum dedicated to only the most elite baseball players to play the game. It’s whole reason for existing is to preserve the history of the game, honor its outstanding contributors, and connect generations of fans. The Hall of Fame is the home of baseball history. As of now, there are 312 members, all of which have excelled in playing, managing, or serving the sport in one way or another (“BBWAA ELECTION RULES”). One of the rules for being inducted into the Hall of Fame is that the votes should be based on the player’s record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played. In order to be inducted, candidates must be

    Read More

  • Steroid Use By Athletes Should be Banned

    2039 Words  | 5 Pages

    It is amazing what athletes will do to achieve higher levels of performance and to sometimes get the extra edge on the competition. Most of the time people do not realize the long-term effects that result from the decisions they make early in life. This resembles the use of steroids in a person’s life.

    Read More

  • The Only Good Reason To Ban Steroids In Baseball

    1871 Words  | 4 Pages

    If players are willing to risk their health just playing, then taking PEDs is not that big of a deal (“The Only Good Reason to Ban Steroids in Baseball: To Prevent an Arms Race”). Also as PEDs get more advanced, they will become safer to take, and if they are legalized they can be tested in official facilities (“Should Pro Leagues Allow PEDs?”). Banning them just promotes getting them from dealers who might not be selling safe drugs, which could lead to other serious side effects (“Should Pro Leagues Allow

    Read More

  • Should Performance-Enhancing Drugs Be Banned?

    1125 Words  | 3 Pages

    Many Athletes are willing to do whatever it takes to become a professional. One of the easiest ways to enhance natural ability is through performance-enhancing drugs or, PEDs. PEDs are substances used by athletes to increase their performance. The use of PEDs in athletic competition can date back to ancient Greece. Athletes use PEDs to run faster, jump higher and recover at an increased pace. Many athletes are pressured into using PEDs by coaches or managers and are not thoroughly educated the harmful health issues that can come along with taking performance-enhancing drugs. A rising issue is if performance-enhancing drugs should be allowed in professional sports. I believe that in any professional sport, the use of performance-enhancing drugs by athletes should continue to be banned because this rule will help to keep athletes from abusing these harmful drugs.

    Read More

  • Sports Persuasive Speech

    513 Words  | 2 Pages

    Personally, I think these drug enhancements should be banned. So, consider this; the player takes the drugs, hits a couple home runs and does good. Then he goes home and his voice changes, he gets stretch marks, he has yellow eyes, acne, high cholesterol, the risk of cancer, and the list goes on even longer! So you win and then have a chance of getting cancer and die. The warrant for drug enhancements is no, not for the other

    Read More

  • What Are The Negative Effects Of Sports In Sports

    878 Words  | 2 Pages

    A-Rod was suspended for the entire 2014 MLB season because of his 162-game suspension. Major League Baseball first sought a 211-game suspension, but arbitrator Fredric Horowitz got the suspension reduced. Prior to Alex Rodriguez’s steroid scandal, he was widely considered to be a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame. Now, even though he has Hall of Fame numbers, it is certainly questionable whether he will get in or not. A-Rod has certainly not only let down those that look up to him ,but also the use of steroids and cheating has ruined his reputation and possibly his career (“Strike Out? Should Steroid Users be Banned From the Hall of

    Read More

More about Baseball: Should PED Users Be Allowed in the MLB Hall of Fame?

Open Document