Of course if Baseball wouldn't forgive "Shoeless" Joe Jackson after all these decades (and focus of a baseball movie classic), Charlie Hustle doesn't have a prayer.

this is difficult saying because sooner or later the hall of fame will have a couple inductees under that suspicion (one including ricky henderson). and, i believe that once it is found out that steroid user (suspected or proven guilty) is in the hof, then i believe pete rose and shoeless joe jackson should be in it.

but, i do believe that roger maris and ron santo should get in the hof before those who may have cheated on the game, and those who were banned.

Whoa whoa. Suspicion is one thing, but that's not equal to fact or evidence or anything.

Let's put it this way. You can suspect Albert Pujols of roiding up simply because of his achievement alone in the annals of baseball history: First 10 seasons, every year never batting below .300, never belting less than 30 Home Runs or 100 RBI. Peter Gammons calls him one of the ten greatest players ever. And why not?

But has he failed a drug test? Nope. Until he tests positive after pissing in a cup, he's innocent. Just because you kick ass doesn't mean you necessarily fucking cheat. I don't know the story behind Mr. Henderson, but until I'm given evidence that the fucker cheated, well I won't convict the guy.



I do too, but I do understand the arguments against them, for they are borderline candidates. I would also add Don Mattingly and Dale Murphy.

The real question I want to ask is when (if ever) do any of the tainted heroes get elected? For now Bonds/Clemens/Palmero/Sosa/McGwire/etc. are all persona non grata, at best 20% on ballots when you need over 75% to get elected.

Surely that can't last forever. With new candidates every year (some borderline, some obvious), the voting for those guys will ever rise or fall. What will happen?

Still there are two fringe benefits of the Roid Era. They forced fans and writers to re-evaluate the careers of great sluggers overshadowed in recent decades: Jim Rice and Andre Dawson. If the Roid Scandals hadn't happened, they would still be outside looking in regarding the Hall of Fame.

(Helped too that nobody has ever accused of them of roiding up. "Clean" sluggers are the rage. Notice that recent 60 MINUTES story on Mr. Pujols, the "Face of Baseball." )

the ricky henderson one was brought up by canseco on the day of his induction. but, yea i do understand that unless a report from mlb comes out, then they are clean.

i just wonder about those who did admitted it or apologized about it, would they stay out forever with those who never admitted to it or will they go in alot sooner?

The real question I want to ask is when (if ever) do any of the tainted heroes get elected? For now Bonds/Clemens/Palmero/Sosa/McGwire/etc. are all persona non grata, at best 20% on ballots when you need over 75% to get elected.

Surely that can't last forever. With new candidates every year (some borderline, some obvious), the voting for those guys will ever rise or fall. What will happen?

You have a slippery slope: if the steroiders are out, then why not the amphetamines guys from the sixties, or why not modern spitballers?

I've come to think that the people best-qualified to decide which cheating was over the line is the current Hall of Famers. I would cut the period the writers have to vote from 15 down to 5 years, and then let the players take over. The Hall allowed the current Hall of Famers to act as the Veterans Committee for a few years, but stupidly changed the makeup of the committee a few years ago.

I don't think the gamblers should be allowed in. Jackson threw the Series and admitted it. With respect to Rose, all we have is his word that his gambling didn't hurt the Reds. He brought a good team home in second place four times, and the team won the Series the first year after he was gone. The only way that doesn't look fishy is if you start from the assumption that Pete Rose just wouldn't do that.