Yankees Debate: The Outcasts and Who Should Go Into the Hall of Fame?

The 2017 MLB Hall of Fame inductees have been chosen. This year, like many years prior, several big names were snubbed. Although, a former Yankees ace inched closer to enshrinement. 

Once again, the likes of Barry Bonds and one-time Yankees starter Roger Clemens have been left out of another Hall of Fame class. This year’s Hall of Fame enshrinees includes Tim Raines, Jeff Bagwell, and Ivan Rodriguez. In this piece, we will be dividing Hall of Fame worthy players into two tiers; I’ll explain as we go along.

TIER I

Among the players during the “Steroid Era.,” Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens are the most convincing candidates for the Hall of Fame. Bonds is still the reigning leader in home runs — the only active player that’s even close to him is Albert Pujols who’s only hit 591.

Bonds finished his career with a .298 batting average and drove in 1,996 RBIs as well as scoring 2,227 runs. On last year’s Hall of Fame ballot, he received 44.3 percent of the vote, while this year he received 53.8 percent. Even though he was still left out, this significant increase shows that ballot voters are losing the stigma against PED-era players.

Clemens, who finished with a 3.12 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP, also shows a strong case for the Hall of Fame. In all-time wins for pitchers, Clemens comes in 9th. Fun fact: he was only one win behind Greg Maddux, who is the only other pitcher from the modern-era in the top 10. Another fun fact: every pitcher in the top 20 in have been voted into the Hall of Fame, sans Clemens.

Like Bonds, Clemens saw a significant jump in ballot votes, going from 45.2 percent to 54.1 percent. If there is ever a chance that the PED-era players go into the hall, it must start with Barry Lamar and “The Rocket.” Whether it’s as soon as next year or several years down the road, they will eventually get their due.

Despite the looming suspicion that both, as well as many of their colleagues, were using PEDs during their careers, the BBWAA cannot know for sure that they did. Even though steroids were illegal, formal testing wasn’t implemented into the league until 2003. Guys like Bonds, Clemens, Sosa, Canseco, and McGwire were never tested nor suspended for steroid usage during their great careers. 

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Even though Jose Canseco came out with his tell-all book about steroid usage in baseball, the MLB can’t hold that as the sole evidence without formal testing being done. Bonds and Clemens even testified under oath that they didn’t use steroids; though they were later charged with perjury and obstruction of justice, even those charges were later dropped. It’s very likely that most of these players took steroids, but we just can’t know for sure or for how long.

It’s my opinion that all of these players will one day be in the Baseball Hall of Fame — it will just take some more time. However, Bonds and Clemens must go in first if guys like Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro and McGwire ever hope to.

Tier II

This includes players such as Alex Rodriguez and Manny Ramirez. What do 12-year Yankees veteran A-Rod and Manny Ramirez have in common? Both won at least one World Series, both hit well over 500 home runs, and both were suspended more than once for PEDs. The difference between Tier I players and Tier II players is that Tier I players need to go into the hall first.

Rodriguez and Ramirez, particularly because they were actually tested positive, are going to have a much more difficult time getting in. They both were suspended extensively for PED usage during their careers, unlike the Tier I players. 

There is actual formally-tested evidence against both players and they were suspended for it, Manny even retired because of his 100-game suspension. They may get inducted in time, it’s just going to take more time and more convincing.

Now, what about David Ortiz? He could even fall into this category because he failed the initial drug test in 2003. What separates “Big Papi” though is that he only got popped once and it was before he won anything significant. He won three World Series titles, which were all after his ’03 failed test.

Ortiz also put up a career .286 AVG and .931 OPS, whilst driving in 1,786 RBIs and smashing 541 HRs. Needless to say, even though he played for the Red Sox, he had a stellar career. I believe Ortiz is the exception to the rule. He doesn’t need the Tier I players to get into the Hall, and therefore he is not a part of Tier II.

Next: Who Won And Who Lost In This Year's Hall of Fame?

One day, though, all of these players will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. It’s just going to take some time and much patience.