HOF Integrity Upheld....right?

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) HOF Election Rule 5 states: 

5. Voting: Voting shall be based upon the player's record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.

On Wednesday the BBWAA showed just how important the character clause is when it comes to getting into the HOF. The gatekeepers to America’s Past Time have spoken, “character and integrity are important, more important than your play on the field.” This is refreshing to hear. Integrity is a rare bird in today’s world, especially today’s sports world, and it is nice to see that someone still values it. The BBWAA still does and they are protecting the gates of Hall of Our Past Time from being infected with bad character and those that lack integrity. “Do steroids and you are not welcome.” However, racists (Ty Cobb, Cap Anson, etc.), game fixers (Ty Cobb), wife-beaters (Kirby Puckett), vasoline pitchers (Gaylord Perry), racetrack gamblers (Rogers Horsnby), drug users (Paul Molitor), sex addicts (Wade Boggs), drunks and womanizers (Babe Ruth and many others), “you are welcome, because you have integrity and character.” Thank you BBWAA. Thank you for upholding such character and integrity. I am relieved to know that when I walk the storied halls of Cooperstown that I am walking not only amongst the best baseball players of all-time, but amongst the best and highest character men of all-time.

I do not like Barry Bonds or Roger Clemens. I do not respect steroid users and what they did to the game and record books. Like many, a part of me was happy to see them be denied. But what are we going to do about it? No records have been stripped. No asterisks have been added to the record books. No players have been banned from the game (McGwire is coaching). Whether we or the BBWAA like it, the 90’s happened? We have jaw dropping records and grunge bands to prove it. The steroid era happened. And Major League Baseball, Bud Selig, and the owners were all in bed with the players throughout the steroid era. MLB, the commissioner, and the owners turned their eyes as the cash registers hummed. “Don’t ask, don’t tell” right? And where were these high integrity writers during this time? They were shouting from the rooftops about how wrong this was and writing stories about this black cloud right? Wrong. They stood by and watched it happened. They didn’t write about it….it being steroids. Remember 1998 when McGwire and Sosa were chasing Maris’ HR record? The media and writer’s covered the story as if they were heroes. They saw the bottles in McGwires locker. They saw the changes in their physiques. They chose not to write about it. They rode their coattails up and now they retroactively enforce punishment. And, if steroids is the line, at which players are going to be kept out, shouldn’t proof be required? Or should all players who played in the 90’s just be kept out. As it stands right now, it looks like the BBWAA have elected to do the latter (the only thing they elected Wednesday). While McGwire and Palmerio have either admitted to using or failed a test, Bonds, Clemens, and Sosa, despite mounting evidence and speculation, have not. There have been rumblings about Piazza and Bagwell, but that is about it. And Biggio? He just got lumped in with the 90’s group.  Talk about high integrity.

Why is it that the writer’s vote anyway. Simply writing about baseball for 10 years gives you credibility to determine it’s history? Here is some history, the BBWAA was organized to improve working conditions and press box access for baseball writers. I guess it makes sense having the BBWAA vote since they are the most knowledgeable about the sport though right? We all know that we don’t look to guys like Marty Brennaman and Vin Scully for baseball history and knowledge (2 of many without a vote), we look to guys like Nobuyuki Kobayashi and Scott Lauber right (both have votes – Tokyo Daily Sports and Wilmington News Journal respectively)? Right. These folks are so knowledgeable that no player has ever been a unanimous election. Not Nolan Ryan, not Ted Williams, not Hank Aaron, not Babe Ruth, no one. If you have ever watched one of the above guys play, or read about them, and you do not believe they are HOF’s, you are an idiot and need your voting privileges revoked. Here is an idea, review the votes and revoke voting rights from the idiots who don’t vote for these guys. Revoke the votes of the 1.2% who left Ryan off their ballot, or the 2.2% leaving Aaron off the ballot, or the 4.9% for Ruth, or the 6.6% for Williams. If 6.6% of the voters believe a man with a .344 career BA and 3 seasons above .400 does not belong in the HOF, then you my friend do not deserve a vote.

While I appreciate integrity and character and feel it should be more revered in today’s society, it never has been in the baseball HOF before, so don’t waive it in my face now. The BBWAA can have their HOF without Ryan, Ruth, Williams, Bonds, Clemens, Rose, etc, give me a HOF with the HR leader, the best pitchers, the Hit King, and the best hitters of the game. Give me a HOF with the best baseball players.