Baseball and Steroids, do they mix?
A high debate topic for dozens of years, many people have always questioned if it was right for steroid users to be allowed in the Hall of Fame, however there is more to the story than you may think. Baseball is a sport that many play, and few can master. Many players who deserve to be in the Hall of Fame such as Manny Ramirez, Barry Bonds, and even Roger Clemens. They have been kept out because they have all taken steroids. Many people think it is an unfair advantage, however I have a different opinion on the subject.
Well start with Barry Bonds, a great player from the beginning he put up unbelievable stats every season. From breaking multiple homerun records, to having an over .500 on base percentage, from a statistical standpoint he is arguably the best baseball player ever. He made the game fun, and was a major factor in improving the game of baseball. From the point that Barry came into the league attendance sky rocketed, jersey sales went up, and approval ratings for the whole MLB went up. He made the game more exciting and helped Americas Past-time. Another great who was bashed for steroid use was Roger Clemens, he is arguably the best pitcher to EVER play, and he had countless strikeouts, great career stats, and has multiple World Series rings. Both of these men helped improve the game, and set the stage for future players, however they are all kept out of the HOF.
The game of baseball is very hard, and requires a lot of hard work, it is in many peoples opinions the hardest sport to play. Even pro baseball players only hit the ball on average of 2 times per every 10 at bats, and that’s if you’re lucky. The best players now a days are hitting an average of 30 homeruns. This is due to a great selection of great pitchers, stricter rules, and also less time to hit the ball due to increased speeds. The game of baseball is always changing, and is without a doubt one of the hardest sports to master. Because of this, people are always finding ways to improve their game, from new training techniques, to finding steroids, to doctoring the ball, it’s just become a part of the game.
The hardness of the sport, and the ever changing game of baseball has made the sport very hard to adapt too. This is why I support the idea of former steroid users getting allowed into the HOF. People who have broken records and are known for changing the game of baseball such as Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire, and Roger Clemens. They influenced the game in a time here attendance was low, and baseball was very unpopular. They helped people enjoy the game of baseball by dazzling them with a lot of homeruns, no hitters, and consecutive all-star games. They all have taken steroids, but this little problem cannot compare to their unbelievable accomplishments. The things they have done for the game of baseball in my opinion outshine the rest of the things they have done.
In all, I truly believe in contrast to others that people who have tested positive for steroids should be allowed in the Pro Baseball Hall of Fame. This is because they helped the game of baseball, and helped develop the game into a more popular sport. Many people have not accepted these people because they think they are cheating, but I believe they were justified in doing this, because they were just trying to help develop their games even further. After all, the game of baseball is always changing, and why get mad at guys for juts trying to get better and innovate the game.
Sources:Carise, Deni. “Baseball and Steroids: What’s the Big Deal?” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 12 Sept. 2013. Web. 07 Apr. 2017.
“The Steroids Era.” ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures, n.d. Web. 07 Apr. 2017.