MLB Hall of Fame: In or Out?

By Matt Resnick

Daily Mail

The recent induction of six former players and managers into Major League Baseball's Hall of Fame reminded us again of the demarcation created by the steroid era.

While the Hall of Fame doors swung open for Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Frank Thomas, Bobby Cox, Tony LaRussa, and Joe Torre -- retired stars either suspected of, or implicated in steroid use, remain locked out.

Barry Bonds, the career home run leader, is out.

Roger Clemens, seven-time Cy Young award winner, is out.

Mark McGwire, with 583 career home runs, including 70 in a season, is out.

Sammy Sosa, with over 600 career home runs, is out.

And former Texas Rangers star Rafael Palmeiro, who eclipsed the 3,000 hit and 500 home run plateaus, was removed from the Hall of Fame ballot altogether after garnering only 4.4 percent of the vote.

While the Hall has previously voted in avowed racists, alcoholics, and womanizers, it is now clear that attitudes have hardened and any player associated in any way with steroids is unlikely to ever receive the required 75 percent of the vote.

Players who may have used steroids are now perceived as cheaters, and baseball wants us to believe that it has eliminated the problem and moved on.

In his induction speech, former Yankees manager Joe Torre said "Baseball is not perfect, but it feels like it is. That's the magic of it. We are responsible for giving it the respect it deserves."

It seems ironic, but part of that respect moving forward is for baseball's highest honor to be denied to some of its greatest stars.