(Some) Hall of Fame Voters Need to Get Over Themselves

Holier-than-thou…

Merriam-Webster defines holier-than-thou as “marked by an air of superior piety or morality.”

This word applies perfectly to the attitude some MLB Hall of Fame voters have of themselves. And it needs to end.

Another year, another HOF voting, same expected omissions. Congrats to Jeter and Walker on getting voted into the Hall. But two names should have also received the good news call yesterday.

I am talking about Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. They respectively garnered 60.7% and 61.0% of the vote, falling short of the 75% requirement.

The reason they fall short every year is obvious: their steroid use.

But there is another reason: the Hall of Fame voters and the morality/character clause they love to deploy.

A large segment of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America loves playing this card alongside their holier-than-thou attitude while filling out their HOF ballot.

Sure – the morality clause is there for a reason, but let’s use it consistently. And if voters used that clause consistently, former commissioner Bud Selig would be in the same position as Bonds and Clemens…out of the Hall

The Steroid Era is a black eye for baseball. And Selig is a huge reason for it even happening. He turned a blind eye during the whole thing as the ultimate enabler.

Where’s the Hall of Fame vote blackballing of Selig?

Hall of Fame voters can’t selective choose when they want to apply their morality clause. Apply it consistently or not at all.

Each year HOF voters leave out these names, it cheapens the value of Cooperstown and decisions will only get murkier as time goes on.

I am done with keeping Steroid Era players out of the Hall.

The Hall of Fame is supposed to tell the history of baseball…and you can’t tell the whole history by ignoring the likes of Bonds, Clemens, and others.

Voters like to pretend these guys never existed because they are holier-than-thou.

Here’s a solution: add them to the Cooperstown…but with an asterisk.

Yes, Barry Bonds hit the most home runs of all time. Yes, he was one of the best baseball players ever. Yes, he also was aided by steroids and played in an era marred by performance enhancing drugs.

Heck, you can even mention his steroid use first before all of his accomplishments.

Let bygones be bygones and stop holding some of the all-time greats out of the Hall.

This goes for steroid users like Bonds and Clemens in addition to a certain 17-time All Star and all-time hits leader…