Will Rafael Palmeiro make the Hall of Fame? His numbers speak for themself, in a 20 year career from?

Question

1986-2005, Palmeiro hit, 3,020 hits, 585 Doubles, 1,835 RBI's, 1,663 Runs Scored and .288 BA. Those numbers make his a virtual lock, however, with his dirty test his final season in 2005 with the Baltimore Orioles, will that wipe out his entire career? He always seemed to be the same size his entire career, 6' 185#, always had that mustache, just seemed like a normal guy, I would've never thought he was juicing. He had 10 years of hitting more than 30 HR's and 100 RBI's, amazing consistency, and never really had a freakish year like 73 HR's for Bonds in 2001. Just a model of consistency. He was mentioned in Jose Canseco's book and Jose's allegations have come to fruition with Palmeiro. Raffy would be the first player ever to hit 500 HR's and 3000 hits and not make the Hall. What can he do to repair his image to eventually make the Hall? or does he have no shot? Also, why should Bonds make it (Bonds was a juicer) and not Raffy?

http://www.baseball-reference.com/p/palmera01.sh

Answer 1

If he didn't test positive for steroids right after waiving his finger in court, then yes. I think he, McGwire, and Bonds should all make it though (even Pete Rose). Their legacy will be always known for the negative things, but their numbers and impact were significant. There are other cheaters and bad character guys in the Hall. If the afore mentioned guys don't make it, then take out Gaylord Perry, Phil Niekro, and other cheaters.

Answer 2

Even before Palmeiro got caught using the juice, I didn't think he had numbers worthy for the Hall of Fame. Yeah, he had 3,000 hits and 500 homers, but they were a product more of a long career in the majors. A Hall of Famer should be one that DOMINATED his era.

In the era Palmeiro played, he was never one of the most feared hitters in the game. That always went to somebody like Belle or Frank Thomas or Will Clark. I don't think Palmeiro was ever considered the best at his position.

Palmeiro's numbers are impressive on their own, but not when you compare them to many players who played at the same time. Steroids or not, his numbers aren't considered overwhelming to his peers.

I think the main criteria for being a Hall of Famer is if the player can be considered the upper, upper echelon for his era. Sorry, Palmeiro doesn't apply. He only appeared in three All-Star games in a 17-season career, and he never finished better than eighth in any MVP voting (he only got votes in five of his 17 seasons).

Palmeiro is beyond help as far as ingratiating himself to the game — especially after he tried the no-balls move of trying to throw Tejada under the bus by accusing him of giving him the B-12 shots. You don't try to drag teammates down with you. That stuff is remembered.

I'd say "No shot."

As much as I don't like Bonds, you'd have to make him a first-ballot Hall of Famer — unless he is finally proven to be on the juice, which we all believe and read he is. On stats alone, Bonds holds numerous home run records (face it, homers are the sexiest part of the game) and he's won the MVP award in a third of his seasons (seven of 21 complete), and finished in the top five in MVP voting in six other years. He’s also been in 14 All-Star games in his 22 seasons.

Bonds is definitely in the elite among his era.

Answer 3

I don't even care about steroids (to be honest it has never bothered me as far as the HOF debate goes) and I never really thought Raffi was a HOFer. Yeah I know he has the numbers but I think a lot of people are just accumulators. Take into account the era he played in (juiced ball, small parks, small strike zones) and could you ever say Palmiero was one of the most dominant players of his era (top 15 position players)? Consistently good is rarely if ever great.

Answer 4

He was a DH for many years, so I discount his offensive numbers with that alone. He hung on to collect numbers, mostly as a DH. He was never really considered to be the BEST 1st baseman during his playing days. he just hung on longer than the others.

But, why should Bonds make it and NOT Rafael Palmiero?

A wagged finger in Congressional chambers followed by a FAILED steroids test may well be enough to get ALL of Palmiero's numbers ignored.

Answer 5

That's gonna be tough. Considering Mark McGwire didn't make it and he never tested positive for steroids and Raffy did...... highly unlikely. Barry bonds never tested positive and he is the home run champ. If you wantto make a case on getting in on the actual numbers, Pete Rose is still waiting and who deserves it more???

Answer 6

Highly unlikely. He's the man with the smoking hypodermic, so he's going to be THE sacrificial lamb to the era.

If he has any interest in rehabilitating his image, he needs to come out of seclusion first. And there's not a great deal of time available to him to pursue the fading chance that he can recapture some (all is not possible) of his deserved acclaim. It's up to him.

Answer 7

He has the dirty test to PROVE he was juicing for STARTERS. That MLB let his DIRTY TEST SIT will kill him. What was it the Test was from like 2-3 months BEFORE it was announced. They LET him get those numbers up before he was busted so that he WOULD have the numbers. I am suspicious they did it to make him the poster child. Say look he has the numbers that would normally be a lock and we aren't letting him in.

Answer 8

Palmiero denied using steroids. He lied. Electing him to the Hall would make the Baseball Writers themselves liars too. The whole idea behind ANYTHING is INTEGRITY, once you lose that, all is lost.

If the Baseball Hall of Fame and the Baseball Writers of America don't care about their integrity, then I don't care either. It's their integrity at stake.

Answer 9

That's a good question. As the first officially caught PED man, probably not, or at least not for a good long time.
Remember, he broke us in two when he was caught. He stabbed his finger in the air, claimed never to have used PEDs, and then went out and got caught. Frankly, I don't give a damn whether he makes it or not.

Answer 10

he was never top 10 best player any year he played. just because he plays a long time to collect does not mean your great. should he be in the same class has Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and Hank AAron. no!!!!!.

Cheaters should not make it to the Hall of Fame.