Review of veterans on Bonds and the juicers

(We have to apologize for this post; we meant to edit it more, but forgot.  It then popped up on the blog this afternoon.  Oops)

The Long Beach Press-Telegram reviews the Ster*id Era in baseball in this piece by Bob Keisser.

Baseball historians will extensively debate when the Steroid Era officially began.    Was it the first time Jose Canseco flexed for the crowd, or when Ken Caminiti admitted his own use? Did it start with the 1998 Home Run orgy or should the BALCO saga get the credit? Call it irony that carbon dating works to denote an epoch but there's no reliable test for Human Growth Hormone.

However the Hall of Fame voters can reflect on MLB in the years between the steroid controversies and the voting.

The baseball writers vote on HOF admittance, and they denied entry to three men who have admitted use of Performance Enhancing Drugs (PED), Jose Canseco, Ken Caminiti and the one player who arguably had the statistical credentials, Mark McGwire. But the collective voice of Hall of Famers is clearly setting the tone.

A majority has made it clear they believe steroid cheats have no place in the Hall. They hail the induction of Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. Sunday and note at the same time that they'll be perhaps the last wrinkle-free Hall of Famers for many years.

"There are different factions," Gwynn said. "There's the old guard, guys who have been in for 20, 30 years and were around when the game was changing after Jackie Robinson. You know where they're coming from. To them, there was no greater era of baseball because the playing field finally had everyone on it.

"There's another group that played in the '70s and there were other issues, and now you have guys from my generation, and we're rookies all over again."

The writer surveys the literature. What follows is a nice compendium of HOFers who commented on the PED situation (many of these remarks can be found in our archives)

There are at least 20 Hall of Famers, among the living former players, who have made it clear they believe a) steroid use has been prevalent among the current generation, b) they're suspicious of any records set during this era, c) anyone linked should not be in the Hall of Fame or d) any combination of the above.

That list includes Hank Aaron, Lou Brock, Jim Bunning, Gary Carter, Bob Feller, Rollie Fingers, Whitey Ford, Reggie Jackson, Harmon Killebrew, Bill Mazeroski, Jim Palmer, Robin Roberts, Brooks Robinson, Frank Robinson, Nolan Ryan, Ryne Sandberg and Ozzie Smith.

The Hall of Famers who have stepped up to a) defend Bonds, McGwire et al, b) believe it's a witch hunt or c) think the issue is overblown are Johnny Bench, Ferguson Jenkins, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey and Duke Snider.

A few have taken the high road, like Ernie Banks, and some have vacillated, like Joe Morgan. Many of the recent inductees to the Hall have been non-committal or stepped away from the issue because they're of the same generation.

Comments

[nike jordan shoes]

"Thanks for sharing. This website is to I too have to help. Very good.
"

[NFL Jerseys Cheap]

Thanks for posting superbowl 2012 this info. I just want to let you know that I just check out your site and I find it very interesting super bowl 2012 and informative. I can’t wait to read lots of wholesale jerseysyour posts.

[cheap christian louboutin]

Thanks for the marvelous posting!I would like to read your blog every day.