First time eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2013 gets really, really interesting. We've already seen what happened to Mark McGwire(23.5%, 23.6%, 21.9%, and 23.7%) in his 1st 4 years on the ballot. I talked about what might happen to Palmiero in 2011. Now comes 2013 and the big names are eligible, Bonds, Clemens, and Sosa. Bonds admitted using cream and clear stating he didn't know what it was. Clemens is in a mess of trouble and was just indicted today for lying to congress in 2008 about his drug use. Sosa has been reported to have been one of the 104 players who tested positive in 2003.
The sad thing here is Bonds had the numbers to get in prior to using, his ego got the best of him. He started using once he wasn't getting all the attention, presumably after the McGwire/Sosa HR chase of 1998. Bonds didn't like it that they were getting all the attention and turned to Balco and PED use. His career to that point would have been enough to get him into the HOF. Now based on the way writers have treated McGwire I'm not sure if he will get in.
Before PED's were anything other than backroom chatter in baseball, I compiled a list of current players and whether or not they were HOF worthy. I shared the list with friends and we debated the ones that we didn't unanimously agree on. On that list, next to Clemens name I typed, "could there be a better defintion of a first ballot hall of famer" I call a do over now. His numbers are a fraud! We can't be sure when he started using but its pretty much a given that he used. Assuming his numbers in Boston are legit and maybe in Toronto he was on his way to the HOF. So is it like Bonds, ego got the best of him or more along the lines of everybody else is why not me? He has a long wait for that phone call welcoming him to Cooperstown.
Sosa. Aside from the fact that he hit 609 HR's and the RBI's associated with those got him to 1667 in his career he never had a 200 hit season. Pre 1998 he never hit more than 40 HR's, never had more than 119 RBI's, and only had 1 year with a BA over .273 (.300 in shortened '94). At that point he was not on his way to the HOF. 1998 (year 10 of career)to 2003 (positive test) 5 of 6 AS games, 1 MVP, never hits less than 40 HR, has 3 of 6 years over .300 BA, has 4 years with 138 RBI or more. 2004 roid rage bites him and Cubs send him away, played 2 more seasons with Baltimore and Texas and missed an entire year in between. Pre '98 he was a good player but not hall worthy, career stats would have most likely got him in but numbers are enhanced by PED's. Keep him out.
Others eligible in 2013 include Mike Piazza, Curt Schilling, Kenny Lofton, and David Wells. If I knew for sure they were all clean Piazza and Schilling would get my vote. Lofton and Wells would most likely never achieve more than about 55%.
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