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Monday, December 22, 2008
Mailed in my first Baseball Hall of Fame ballot the other day and Mark McGwire got one of my check marks.
Thought about not voting for the controversial slugger. His message to Congress during those steroid hearings — "I'm not here to talk about the past" — kept echoing in my head, of course.
But 583 home runs are hard to ignore and, hey, he did "save" baseball in 1998, along with Sammy Sosa (yes, I'll likely vote for him, too, when the time comes). Or so we were led to believe.
McGwire won't make it because the vast majority of the BBWAA electorate (it's the Baseball Writers Association of America; who knows why there's an extra "B") is determined to punish him for cheating, even though there's no real proof.
Rickey Henderson got my vote, too. If the greatest leadoff hitter of all-time is not checked on 100 percent of ballots, another Congressional committee needs to convene. But you know somebody will hold Rickey's arrogance — or his "snatch catch" — against him and others will use the dopey "nobody should go in on the first ballot" reasoning.
After some study and conversation, I also checked boxes next to the names of Jim Rice, Bert Blyleven and Andre Dawson.
A friend who grew up near Boston argued against Rice because he remembers him failing in the clutch regularly and hitting into too many double plays. Never mind that he scared pitchers like few hitters in history. Typical Red Sox fan.
Blyleven pitched on some awful teams, including the Indians of the early 1980s, and still compiled amazing numbers. Dawson, like Rice, was simply a fearsome hitter for a significant period of time and has waited long enough.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2408 or smcclelland@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Comments
By justforfun
December 26, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this
I’d vote for MARK MCGWIRE too. And in no way is it lowering the HOF standards. HANK AARON admitted to taking peds and he’s in the Hall of Fame. I think most people would agree that the standards weren’t lowered by Aaron’s induction.
By justforfun
December 26, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this
I’d vote for MARK MCGWIRE too. And in no way is it lowering the HOF standards. HANK AARON admitted to taking peds and he’s in the Hall of Fame. I think most people would agree that the standards weren’t lowered by Aaron’s induction.
By Bubba
December 23, 2008 8:20 AM | Link to this
HuberTucky:
Quote: “Rose played by the rules as a player and should be in the hall”. Actually, Rose took “greenies” like they were candy. He was one of the worst drug users of his generation.
Quote:”Anyone who disagrees with me is an idiot. Period”. Really. Very intelligent comment. I’m thinking you just showed everyone who the idiot is. Thanks for clearing that up.
By photoman
December 23, 2008 7:00 AM | Link to this
Well, if “they” keep lowering the standards of the HOF enshrinement, we’ll all be able to be in one day.
By Jammin
December 23, 2008 6:25 AM | Link to this
All we can go by are statistics, in which case, Mac belongs in the HOF. Every era has its’ cheaters-Amphetamines and Petes’ name have came up before and he was closely tied to a known Dayton cocaine dealer about the time the gambling thing came up. Some of the pitchers in the HOF used doctored baseballs. Are players from the last ten years to be judged differently just because things are monitored better??
By HuberTucky
December 23, 2008 2:21 AM | Link to this
Rose should be in based on his stats as a player. His performance as a manager is not relevant to his days as a player. McGuire? Just another garden-variety cheater like punk Bonds and Sosa and Clemmons and a few others — NO WAY, NEVER! Rose palyed by the rules as a player and should be in the hall…it’s a no brainer. Anyone who disagrees with me is an idiot. Period.
By RUserious
December 22, 2008 9:12 PM | Link to this
FFUUCCKK Pete Rose!
Blylevin gave up way too many gopher balls!
McGwire’s just another roidboy…screw him too!
By boxter
December 22, 2008 6:31 PM | Link to this
Pete Rose BROKE the rules. Why do you losers continue to say put Rose in? He does not belong in. He KNEW the rules and he thought he was bigger than the game. Guess who won that fight? I hope he never gets in. He is a loser.
By jim
December 22, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this
Look at Concepcion’s numbers. He is a career .267 hitter in an age when most shortstops couldn’t hit their weight. He won 2 rings, 5 gold gloves and was a 9 time all-star. He averaged 122 hits a season with the bulk coming during a 12-year run when he averaged 150 hits and he had a .972 fielding percentage. He should be in before Larkin gets in.
By Bubba
December 22, 2008 4:28 PM | Link to this
Giving Sean McClelland a vote for the Hall of Fame is like giving a driver’s license to a blind man.
By Rob
December 22, 2008 1:19 PM | Link to this
Good call on Blyleven - I think you’re dead on with the assesment. He always had awesome numbers even when he pitched for terrible teams - imagine what he could have done playing on some winners. I disagree on Jim Rice. I’d argue that Rice wasn’t even the most feared hitter in most of the lineups he was in, forget the entire league. You know who has more home runs than Jim Rice? Dwight Evans. Dewey also won 8 Gold Gloves, Rice won zero. I don’t know why anybody would vote for Rice and NOT Evans.
By Ray
December 22, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this
McGwire should be in. Sammy, yes. Bonds…definately! Rose…definately! It pains me that Concepcion never got the respect. He should be a HOF. Ozzie made plays look spectacular, that Concepcion made look routine! Nothing against the Oz, but Davey was a better SS. Both belong! Steriods should not be an issue because the ownership knew it and turned a blind eye because the game needed a shot in the arm (sorry for the pun)because of the damage done by the labor strikes. Clemens HOF when eligible!!
By Sense
December 22, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this
I guess anyone can get a Hall of Fame ballott. Bucky Albers was still a HOF voter several years ago. Not a slam on Bucky. But there is no reason Sean should be voting. Hall of Famers and current baseball writers are the only ones who should have a vote. But maybe the BBWAA should simply control its membership. As for the task at hand, the question is was McGwire a hall of flamer before it was determined that he may have taken steroids. Just like Bonds.
By 12penguins
December 22, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this
Sean, how are you a member of the baseball writers association. You do not cover a team and I can;t recall any articles or covergae of baseball that you have done for the DDN. What gives?
By Cait
December 22, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this
This is not about Pete. I wouldn’t vote for McGwire on the first ballot. But I’m OK with him getting in. The HOF is full of cheaters (Gaylor Perry), druggies (Fergie Jenkins) and jerks (Ty Cobb) among its names. I’m disappointed in McGwire, but he still deserves the Hall - eventually. As far as “waiting long enough,” then Dave Concepcion should be getting in. Let’s hope the Veterans Committee has the integrity to do what the BBWAA wouldn’t.
By BigJack
December 22, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this
I guess I don’t understand why someone with a ballot wouldn’t vote in Mark McGuire. He’s one of the greatest hitters of all time. Lots of guys juice, but what he was able to do was something special.
By mica
December 22, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
bert and dawson no on the others write in for pete
By RavensRockNorth
December 22, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
Maybe Sean should go back to writing something he really knows about. Like hockey. Oh that’s right, he can’t do that either.
By Tom
December 22, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this
Your elevator must not go all the way up. What kind of message are you sending our youth? ( It’s o.k. to shot up so you can set a record. sad!)
By nyc
December 22, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
pete rose was a joke….he will never be on a ballot..and rightly so….all he does now is “hustle”..people …what a joke he is now….and a bold face liar…..stay banned for life liar…..
By mr937
December 22, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this
who cares?
By rene
December 22, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this
Pete Rose should be in the HOF, period. Yes, he did something that he should not have done, but at least he never took any drugs to help him achieve his playing status. McGwire may have not “hidden” anything, but he only achieved his status due to the fact that he took what are now banned substances. He’s also gone into hiding and has become a mere shell of what he once was. Players like him and Bonds do not deserve any more accolades. Their days of glory are shamefully done
By DENNIS
December 22, 2008 9:33 AM | Link to this
I bet you can”t wait to vote for Berry Bonds.Do us a favor and put a * beside your ballot. How about voting in Ron Santo he”s waited long enough also if thats your criteria for acceptance in the hall.
By papabear13
December 22, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this
To compare voting for Pete Rose to voting for Mark McGwire is not an argument you can make. As good as Pete was, he has never been on the ballot, so you can’t blame the BBWAA for not voting for him. Mark McGwire on the other hand is on the ballot and is elegible and should be in the Hall Fame. Unlike many of his peers, Mark never hid what he was taking. It was not a banded substance and was not illegal at the time so I don’t understand the argument against him.
By Tom
December 22, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this
If you’re going to vote druggies in, surely you would vote for someone like Pete Rose. At least, he played the game fair and square, and didn’t need steroids to get his record breaking number of hits.
By Willow
December 22, 2008 7:43 AM | Link to this
Oh give it up…Pete Rose is never going to be let back in to the HOF.
By Big Red Machine product
December 22, 2008 7:16 AM | Link to this
Let Pete in.