Do you think Sammy Sosa is a HOF player. and should be voted in on the first ballot?

Answer 1

The question becomes, "Is 600 homeruns a free pass to the HOF?" Ten years ago there would be no question about it, but today I am not sure. Remember, Sosa had a career batting average of only 274. Those that vote on the HOF ballot don't have to give a reason why they vote the way they do. There is going to be a considerable backlash over this whole steroids issue and what Sosa's involvement might have been. I put McGuire in the same category as Sosa, I believe they will make it someday but it won't be quick or easy.

Answer 2

Several people have pointed out the No Speaking English during the Senate Confirmation hearings. I will tell you why Sammy is a HOFer and why he should be a first ballot HOFer, as well as handle the others' issue with Sammy in Congress.
We still live in a society that although the law says innocent until proven guilty, the court of public opinion has never done that. Sammy has NEVER failed a drug test. Did his body change in an era of baseball when people are assumed to have been using steroids? Absolutely, but absent the failed test, let Sammy have his statistics. The man has hit 600 HRs, most of them against pitchers who may have been doing everything they could to get an edge on batters. Sammy was MLB for a good portion of this time, appearing in commercials, engaging to fans and other players, a perennial All-Star and one of the most feared hitters of his time. As for his ability to not speak English, go back and review the situation. Sammy is not a US citizen, and has NEVER spoken fluent English (Baseball been bery bery good to me.) If you were placed in front of a governing body in the Dominican, I can guarantee you would want a skilled interpreter at your side, so that you did not misspeak. As the transcripts from that day show, Sammy was the only player in the room, on the panel, who answered every questions asked. He did not pull a Mark McGuire and refuse to talk about it. He did not proclaim innocence, then fail a test, ala Rafael Palmiero. I am certain that after appearing, these players were definitely given an increased amount of 'random' tests. Even Bonds has admitted that he is tested more frequently. So yes, Sammy deserves to be a HOFer because of his numbers, and the fact that he is in such rare company makes him a 1st ballot HOFer at that.

Answer 3

If the same rules are applied to his nomination as everyone else he would be. If you overlook his scandals, cocky attitude, and ethnicity and just focus on the numbers then he is a shoe in on the first ballot. Sammy has had to live in someones shadow since he and McGuire squared off that faithful year. Wasn't it Sammy who broke Marius's record first? Everyone only remembers Mark's end of the year total. Sammy just hit the 600 hr mark, one of only a few to do so and one of two active players to do so, but Bonds is all anyone can talk about. Has anyone else hit at least 60 HR three years in a row? Say what you want about Sosa, but you can't deny the numbers. If the numbers matter he's in. Oh yeah, don't give Sosa any grief about his performance enhancing drugs if you paying attention to what Bond's is doing. If you were offered millions to play a game you were all ready good at, and there were little to no laws saying you couldn't take something to make you better you would do it too. The corked bat thing? Like no player has ever done that before. Sosa's numbers are there regardless.

Answer 4

I say yes, but he wont get there the first time. The sports writers are way too high and mighty about this steroid stuff. It's like two guys illegally got some documents, now they all think they're hard core investigative reporters who must uphold the standards of the game. Where were these ******* 10 or even 5 years ago?

Sorry about the tangent, but it pisses me off that we now have to ask questions about whether or not a guy with 600 homers gets in.

Also, the Rangers hired him cause they knew 600 was going to happen; why no big celebration? It's a travesty. He is an amazing ball player who's been getting screwed his whole career.

He hit 60 three times and never lead the league or won an MVP in those seasons. Can we please recognize this great player? Ever?

Answer 5

a guy with 600 HRs NOT getting into the HOF?

ten years ago, EVERY person you asked this would have laughed hysterically for about five minutes if you'd asked this question....

for that reason alone he should be in the HOF....

MAYBE he benefited from steroids....
1. we don't know that conclusively, so innocent until proven guilty

2. lots of other folks benefitted too, yet only he, bonds and mcguire seemed to really take advantage of it.... he still had to hit the balls....

3. HGH wasn't banned during MOST of his career so if he benefitted from that, SO WHAT? if it ain't banned, its fair game...

4. what about amphetamines, which MOST baseballers use to survive the brutal grind of the season... isn't this a drug that enhances performance? certainly more folks would be breaking down otherwise.... you can't cherrypick what's acceptable and whats not....

5. define performance enhancing.... i can get better by working out, practicing longer and harder, watching tape, i can be better naturally through having good genetics... all these things can make me better than someone who doesn't do or have these things. should i be penalized because i wanted to better myself more than he did .... just drinking or taking a shot of something gives me new powers overnight or something, there's still work involved

6. because bud selig is on a witch hunt to "clean up the game" (ie cover up the fact that this mess took place on his watch) he's going after the big fish.... why so selective? there's no way to quantify HOW MANY folks did this in this era, if somehow all the names were known more than half the league would be guilty, and probably more than a few Jeters and Ortiz's and Pujols (ie so-called good-guys) would be on that taint list....

7. he and mcguire helped SAVE baseball.... that 1998 homerun chase made baseball must-see tv... you were watching sportscenter every morning to see who did what, how the other would respond, etc.... selig was as much a part of that moment as they were, don't hang them out to dry now...

8. the old players who talked about how they wouldn't do that and blah blah blah the game was pure then blah blah blah probably WOULD have IF they'd been available then and probabaly took more mild stuff to help them out.... recall these eras begat spitballs, "foreign substances" and tampered balls; blacks couldn't play for a good part of baseball's history; the black sox, etc... the game has NEVER been as pure and idyllic as folks would want us to assume... cheating IS a part of baseball, except its the elephant in the room nobody really wants to address.....

so when this man finally hangs it up and the mandatory 5 years is up, do the right thing and PUT HIM IN THE HALL!!!!! the only thing that SHOULD affect his 1st ballot status is the lack of playoffs and chapionships on his resume... he STILL should be in the first chance he gets regardless....

Answer 6

I definately think that he should be in the Hall of Fame. I do think he should be bypassed on the first vote, but he can be voted in the following year. They need to acknowledge the fact that he did use an illegal substance in his quest for 600. I think other players used and that it is hard to determine what stats are legit for whom. You can't ignore Sammy, he is a good player. Just don't vote him in the first time.

Answer 7

Some would consider Sosa a candidate for the Hall of Fame, but I think he will have a rough time getting in.

Answer 8

Yes but maybe not on the first ballot to let the juicers know it won't be easy to get in the HOF.

Answer 9

I would vote for him.

I really care little for the "first ballot" thing. A player is either worthy or is not, pending future reconsideration.

Answer 10

Yes, not 1st ballot