by Todd Pheifer

Created on: March 06, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

What is really remarkable about Barry Bonds, is that despite all the allegations, rumors, and assumed use of performance enhancing drugs, he has yet to be suspended by Major League Baseball for any sort of rules violation. In fact, he will play in 2008, assuming some team is desperate enough to take on his entourage and baggage. I am not a fan of Barry Bonds and I think he is for all practical purposes a "dirty" player. Still, I think he belongs in the Hall of Fame and here are some specific reasons why he should be inducted into Cooperstown.

STATISTICS

No one argues with Barry's numbers. Statistically speaking Bonds is one the best players EVER to play the game. The hits, average, home runs, and overall productivity are unmatched by anyone in baseball history and he has at times in his career been the most feared hitter in baseball. He went through stretches in his career where automatic walks became a regular occurrence in the course of a game. In addition, his membership in the rare "40-40" club means that he was and is a multi-dimensional player. He has never been regarded as a dominant defensive player, but he has been serviceable enough that it hasn't tarnished his monstrous offensive statistics.

WITHIN RULES

As mentioned above, Barry has never been suspended for drug use by Major League Baseball. Some will dismiss this as a technicality due to the rampant rumors and the fact that he has been indicted by the federal government. People will also point to the lax or sometimes absent drug policy as reason to keep Barry out of the Hall. However, you must judge a player on their statistics, their impact on the game, and the actual offenses that were punished. Pete Rose was actually suspended for gambling but Barry has not been suspended for steroids.

PERSONALITY

Bonds has never been described as a likable guy. He is not considered friendly with the press, and he does not have that superstar personality that fans come to expect of people in the limelight. In many ways this has hurt Bond's chances for the Hall of Fame because voters want to put someone in that they like. That doesn't seem very objective, but the reality is that personality counts. Since the criteria for the Hall of Fame is not absolutely defined, subjectivity plays a role.

As mentioned above, I am not a fan of Barry Bonds. He appears arrogant, and I believe the reports that he used performance enhancing drugs. That said, I think he should go into the Hall of Fame. I blame baseball for not having a stricter policy and holding players accountable when there seems to be evidence that they were aware of wrongdoing. Punish those players that were actually caught, but if the system did not punish Barry Bonds, neither should the voters.

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