The Tribune’s Hall of Fame voters give their takes on whether the Mitchell report will affect their ballots.
Mike Downey
Yes. I will evaluate and re-evaluate each case individually. Cheaters have been inducted into the Hall of Fame in the past and will be in the future. As the ballplayers themselves like to say, I’ll just take ’em one at a time.
Mark Gonzales
No. I already have strong thoughts about these candidates. Rule No. 5 regarding election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame involves “integrity, sportsmanship, character … ” I will continue to follow those qualifications when casting my vote.
Teddy Greenstein
Yes. My first-ever ballot arrived Wednesday and boom! — in John Madden-speak — I’m already under the gun. This will affect whether I vote for players such as Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte. But it might have even more influence on how I judge Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro and, yes, Sammy Sosa. Was every great player in the ’90s a member of the Steroid Club for Men? If so, it will actually become easier to decide who is worthy of Cooperstown.
Philip Hersh
Yes. I will be delighted to exclude Roger Clemens from the Hall of Fame. His lawyer’s protest about Clemens never having tested positive shows how out of touch baseball players are about steroids. Marion Jones took 160 tests without a positive, lest we forget so soon.
Dan McGrath
Yes, sad to say. I thought Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens had Hall of Fame credentials without chemical enhancements, but if you’re a Hall of Famer, you’re a Hall of Famer, and if you’re a cheater, you’re a cheater. In my view, they’re mutually exclusive. Players who relied on drugs to gain an edge cheated … and they made a mockery of the record book.
Fred Mitchell
No. I will attempt to factor in the effect of the “Steroid Era” while assessing the relative statistics the players accrued. The Mitchell report confirms what I have suspected for years — that numerous pitchers used performance enhancers, although the sluggers have had more public vilification. The playing field has been leveled, even while many of the players were crooked. The report also reaffirms to me that true sportsmen such as former Cubs outfielder Andre Dawson belong in the Hall of Fame.
Phil Rogers
Yes. Roger Clemens is the best pitcher I’ve ever seen, a genetic freak who has multiplied his talent through an incredible work ethic. But when his career was sliding, he turned to steroids and human growth hormone to get an edge, at least according to his strength coach. Based on that, he’s no different than Barry Bonds. I didn’t vote for Mark McGwire, I wouldn’t vote for Bonds and now I can’t vote for Clemens. It’s a shame.
Paul Sullivan
Yes. You can’t deny Mark McGwire without doing the same for Roger Clemens. I think the best solution is to open a separate wing for Baseball’s Hall of Fame villains and include players such as Clemens, McGwire, Barry Bonds, Pete Rose, Gaylord Perry and Shoeless Joe Jackson. It would be quite a popular exhibit.
Dave van Dyck
No. We still don’t know all the players who abused drugs — and never will — so how can we ban Roger Clemens (who was named) from the Hall of Fame and then vote for Sammy Sosa (who was not named)? The only one who currently should not be voted in is Rafael Palmeiro, who swore he didn’t use steroids and then tested positive after they were banned.
