Should Barry Bonds be allowed into the Hall of Fame?

No

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by Chris Smolko

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This topic needs no explanation, nothing to defend the argument, no crunching numbers, no justification what-so-ever, because the only answer is NO! But, to appease all the readers out there, here are my countless reasons why Barry Bonds deserves no such recognition, congratulations, or celebration for such a meaningless feat.

Should cheating be rewarded? Although he still denies ever cheating or taking steroids, the results are impossible to argue. Prior to 1998, he was one of the best baseball players in the game. The only player arguably better was Ken Griffey Jr. whose career has taken a turn for the worse over the last 6 years because of injury. If not for all the injuries people would not even be concerned with Bonds because Griffey would have nearly the same home run total and is five years younger. But I digress. After the 1998 season, Bonds became jealous of all the public support and love Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were receiving for chasing down the most hallowed baseball record, 61*. Roger Maris' single season home run record was teetering on being broken for several years when out of nowhere Sosa hits 20 bombs in one month setting the single month record. McGwire was hitting long balls at an unheard of record pace as well. Just four years after the strike and when baseball had lost so much support and popularity, two home run hitters captivated a nation as the new record became 70 with Sosa not far behind at 66. The new standard obliterated the old mark as the juiced era began. And, I don't mean the balls. Bonds resented the mythical status these two players had reached, I mean Bonds had accomplished so much more than both of them but received only slack from the media for his negative image and attitude. So, he made the single most damning decision of his career. He would put aside his Gold Glove defense, his base stealing capabilities, and his all around great status and make a deal with the devil to sell his sole and become "our" Home Run King.

In 1999, his statistics took a turn for the worse because of injuries. He only played 102 games and reports that his steroid use became visible in the locker room have been rumored. He was not seen taking steroids but his body changes were being noticed with increases in muscle mass and increased back acne. Steroids also can lead to more muscular injuries because the muscle become too big too fast. For only the second time in his career he had less than 20 stolen bases in a year and hit only 34 home runs. Just three years earlier he had 40 stolen bases along with 42 home runs. He was only the second person to accomplish this feat, the first being Jose Canseco (an admitted steroid user). In 2000, his home run total jumped to 49, his career high but again his stolen bases decreased to a new career low 11. Then in 2001, he came into spring training having put on 25 pounds of muscle in the off-season after the age of 36. As a health care professional, this is unheard of. To put on that kind of muscle in such a short period of time at that age is unnatural. He took on the mythical gladiator appearance and hit home runs like no one has ever seen. He set the new record of 73 without even a second thought and everyone loved him. He became everything he was not by channeling the Sosa and McGwire phenomenon and entertained the American public, feeding their insatiable need for excitement.

An overview of his numbers reveals a decline in defense starting around 1998-2000, 73 home runs in a single season with no other years above 50, consistent stolen bases between 28-52 for ten years followed by 9 straight years below 15, and Ruthian walk totals at the end of his career. Players are not suppose to improve their already Hall Of Fame caliber numbers to these extents and by this much after the age of 36-38. Hand eye coordination and bat speed are declining, not increasing. Bonds is one of only a few whose career can be separated distinctly between an obvious pre-steroid and post-steroid period. It was like night and day. The sad thing is he would have been considered one of the greatest baseball players to play the game without steroids. He would have been celebrated and still reached milestones only a handful had reached, let alone records he holds that no one else can say they have reached. But he sold his sole for two records, the single season home run record and career home run record which he accomplished by cheating. As a result, he should be null and void in any Hall Of Fame discussion just as Pete Rose has. It does not matter the degree or type, cheating is cheating and banishment from the Hall is the only repercussion acceptable. An end to an otherwise despicable tale and era for professional baseball.

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