Here we go! Mark McGwire is on the ballot for baseball's Hall of Fame...Would you favor McGwire's induction?

Question

McGwire Great, but He Won't Get This Vote
Cheaters Just Don't Belong in Cooperstown
By RICHARD JUSTICE
AOL
Sports Commentary

Baseball will hold its first referendum on steroids in January. That's what Mark McGwire's first appearance on the Hall of Fame ballot amounts to.

McGwire won't get in this year. That's pretty much a lock based on conversations with my colleagues.

Whether he ever gets in is another story. This year's balloting might reveal how Barry Bonds , Raffy Palmeiro, etc., will be treated when they're eligible.

At some point, all of us who cast ballots are hoping for some clarity on the issue of steroid use.

I've said I won't vote for Mark McGwire or any other player who I believe used steroids. They are cheats. Period. Using performance-enhancing drugs is a health risk and compels other players to take the same risk. It sends a terrible message to kids.

How would you vote on the issue of Mark McGwire being inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame?

Answer 1

NOT ON THE FIRST BALLOT

Answer 2

As a fan of Mark McGwire, I was disappointed and devastated when he didn't answer the questions put before him in congress. He should have answered yes or no, but as it is often said, the absence of a response, is normally the admittance of guilt.

They say that steroids or any other muscle enhancing products doesn't make a home run hitter because it also requires eyesight and hand coordination. Well, if you are going to play the game of baseball, even in little league, you have to have both, but when you add muscle enhancing products, it makes a double into a home run. To put it more mildly, someone who is not on the "juice" would hit a ball to the wall, while someone on the "juice" would hit it over it.

Mark Mcgwire didn't answer the questions. If he had said yes, there would have been time to forgive him for this. If he had said no, while there would still be people wondering if he did, at least he answered it, under oath.

He does deserve to be in the Hall, but in my opinion, not as a first time ballot. I would vote for him, but not this year, maybe not even next year, after that more then likely.

Answer 3

First of all Mark McGwire was not a great baseball player. He was not a particularly a good hitter and was a below average defensive player. If you look at his stats you will see that I am correct. Two years prior to him taking steroids you can see how close he came to playing himself right out of the game. If not for the performance enhancing drugs he most likely would not have been around long enough to be traded to St. Louis. As far as I'm concerned he was never a Hall Of Fame caliber player to begin with regardless of his home run total and certainly should never be allowed into the hall based on his steroid use....HE CHEATED! End of story!

Answer 4

My hubby who as you know is an avid fan wrote a letter to ESPN almost 6 years ago (before anyone knew about the steroids) saying that McGwire didn't deserve to be in the hall of fame! This was based strictly on his statistics! Yes he hit almost 600 homeruns and set the single season record in 98 but he cited how in his career he missed almost 3 full seasons worth of games due to injurys! He cited his batting average, OBP, strikeouts and his defensive ability's which were average at best. If you go back and look at his statistics, you will see that he only hit .300 once. His RBI to homerun ratio wasn't that great either. No, McGwire didn't have the career to be included in the hall of fame BEFORE the steroids.
Your thoughts?

Answer 5

I personally don't know for sure if he used them, nor am I convinced they help all that much - just ask ALLEGED steroid user Marvin Benard (ex-Giant) if it helped his streaky performance. Also Palmeiro didn't seem to do too well in last year's homerun derby, either - and his use is known for sure. BTW one drug not only still used but prescribed by all teams is Benzedrine. Should that be examined? How about coffee? How about drinks the night before to calm the nerves? How about Babe Ruth's notorious homeruns hit after getting blotto the night before? Where do we stop with this record nullification?

Personally I'd let him and Pete Rose in.

Answer 6

I totally agree! Mythology (stories, legends, records) are a big part of my love of the game. When someone corrupts the game by artificially alterring the outcome, the integrity of the game is lost and I feel betrayed. There are much stronger arguments for having Shoeless Joe Jackson and Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame than today's pumped-up Michelin Men.

Answer 7

I agree with Richard Justice!! He does not deserve to be honored in baseball's Hall of Fame when he cheated and then lied about it. Furthermore, all of his stats are seriously called into question because of his use of steroids.

Chow!!

Answer 8

He should not be inducted. He only had a few good seasons in a career otherwise plagued with inconsitency and injury. Whether he used steroids or not is irrelevant, he just plain does not have the numbers to be deserving.

Answer 9

Hi George! You always ask great questions :) The is not a chance in hell I would ever favor Mark entering the Hall of fame,

Answer 10

Absolutely, McGwire brought so much back to baseball. When baseball was decending he showed up and people started watching it again. Not to mention he broke a record that hadn't been broke in years.

Answer 11

He doesn't belong with Cal Ripken nor Tony Gwynn true hall of famers.