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This is a question that will haunt Major League Baseball until todays players are long retired. During this time frame we call the "steroid era" we have been witness to many extraordinary feats. We have seen the single season home run record fall twice. Several players have reached home run mile stones of 500, 600, and the the big one 756.

With all of the media focusing on Barry Bonds, and alleged steroid use. The baseball world has put a former big home run hitter in the closet, and seemingly forgot about him.

Mark McGwire was the poster child of the St. Louis Cardinals. There big bat in the line up, and all around good guy. In the summer of 98' he, and Sammy Sosa were tearing the cover off of the ball. In what was one of the most exciting seasons in recent memory. No one had come this close to breaking Roger Maris' home run record before. These two didn't just break the record. The pounded it in to the ground. MLB took full advantage of the drama, and played it up. Mark McGwire was made out to be the all American guy. He represented everything that was America. While Sosa was played out the rags to riches story, and embodiment of the American dream. McGwire ended up holding the record at the end of the season. He hit 70 long balls while his counter part hit 66. Sosa was named MVP, because his cubs made the playoffs that year.

Some where in all of the media circus it was pushed a side that some kind of performance enhancing cream was found in McGwire's locker. Now the witch hunt that is accruing with Barry Bonds is bad. You can not turn your television on with out hearing something about Bonds, and steroids. The fact that he has not tested positive for steroids has been forgotten. This has only made MLB's lack of involvement in McGwire's case that much more insulting. McGwire was caught cheating, and was still allowed to keep his home run record.

A few years later after McGwire's retirement due to injuries. McGwire, and others were assembled on Capitol Hill to discuss performance enhancing drugs in the game of baseball. McGwire had a chance to redeem him self during this hearing, but instead he chose to embarrass not only himself, but MLB as well. He refused to answer any questions that dealt with his use of performance enhancing drugs. Instead he responded by saying things like I did not come here to talk about the past. I am here to talk about the future. At one point he even started to get teary eyed.

The fact of the matter is this. Of all the big power hitters of the "steroid era" Bonds, Sosa, Griffey, to name a few have not tested positive for theses drugs. McGwire, Conseco, Giambi, Caminiti, and Palmero are the only ones that we know for sure have cheated. Three of the names on this list played for the Oakland A's. That is just an observation though, but maybe there is something for MLB to look into there. As far as if McGwire should be allowed into the Hall of Fame. No I do not. He embarrassed the single season home run record, and he embarrassed the game of baseball. Personally I don't think he should be allowed into Coopers town even if he buys a ticket.

Learn more about this author, Kory Ross.
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