Kesley D. Fleming
Due March 1st, 2013
English 112: 11:00-11:50
Professor Welsh
Baseball, Steroids, and the Hall of Fame
Baseball has always been known as America’s Favorite Pastime. However, just recently the validity of the sport has started to come into question of the minds of MLB fans because of the significant use of steroids. Just recently, the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) voted and nobody on the Hall of Fame ballot received the 75% of votes necessary to be inducted in the Hall of Fame (“No Player”, 2013). This has only occurred one other time in the past four decades (“No Player”, 2013). There are several problems with this situation including …show more content…
The first year Mark McGwire was on the ballot he received 23.7% of the votes needed. But then, after openly admitting to the use of steroids in January of 2010, he dropped to 19.8% and 19.5% the last two years (Lacques, 2012). The question then becomes, how do they decide? How is it okay for one man to use steroids and be rewarded by being inducted in the Hall of Fame, but another man be denied access? There are a few reasons that I have come up with as to why men who use steroids should not be allowed in the Hall of Fame, period, and below I have described …show more content…
These drugs have been such a huge part of the 20th and 21st centuries that maybe it is impossible to wean out the guys who didn’t use them. Maybe they just didn’t get caught like others did. Just recently Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees and Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers have been linked to the same Biogenesis lab that Melky Cabrera attended. Last season, Cabrera was suspended because he tested positive for steroids. Rodriguez is undoubtedly one of the best players in the history of baseball. His career with the Yankees has been amazing, and he’s put up some outstanding numbers. At the end of his career will people look at his numbers, or will they remember him for using steroids? This is something that the BBWAA has to deal with every time they place a