The Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York is not complete. There is no limit to how many people can be inducted to it and there is still room for more players to be added. Players are added every year and it is past time for Pete Rose to have his name added to this list. For him to be banned from this honor is not only unfair but an injustice and an affront to honest and just people everywhere. Rose’s induction or failure to be inducted is no longer about gambling or even about baseball; it is about justice.
Rose was permanently banned from baseball on August 24, 1989 (Dodd, 1994). He could apply for reinstatement after one year. A permanent ban is a punishment given to anyone associated with Major League Baseball that has tarnished or violated the game in some way. It is important to note that only Oscar Walker, who was banned for “contract jumping,” Benny Kauff, who was banned for selling stolen cars, and Pete Rose, were banned reasons other than attempting to “fix” baseball games, according the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame (Hall of famers, n.d.). Rose, who was banned for gambling, was never accused of betting against his team or of trying to throw the games.
A closer look at the individuals deemed appropriately untarnished by the Hall of Fame Board of Directors would show a myriad of sins equal to or more injurious of those Rose is accused of. Mickey Mantle was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974, and played the majority of his career with the New York Yankees. Mantle was associated with gambling through his work in public relations with an Atlantic City casino after his retirement from MLB. His life was defined by baseball but marred by alcoholism. He had a well deserve...
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...teroid scandal into the past, MLB historian says. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 22, 2011, from http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/04/barry-bonds-verdict-moves-baseballs-steroid-scandal-into-the-past.html
Mickey Mantle biography. (n.d.). In Encylopedia of World biography. Retrieved April 22, 2011, from http://www.notablebiographies.com/Lo-Ma/Mantle-Mickey.html
Perkins, D. (1991, January 7). Rose pays a debt to society, now baseball’s debt is due. Toronto Star, p. d1. Retrieved April 13, 2011, from http://www.lexisnexis.com.indianapolis.libproxy.ivytech.edu.allstate.libproxy.ivyt ech.edu/hottopics/lnacademic/
Wheeler, L. (1989, June 29). In Cincinnati, Rose is still a hero. New York Times, p. b12. Retrieved April 11, 2011, from http://www.lexisnexis.com.indianapolis.libproxy.ivytech.edu.allstate.libproxy.ivyt ech.edu/hottopics/lnacademic/
book, I truly hope and believe that R.A. Dickey — once he retires from baseball — will be honored as one
If players did things that are worthy of being in the HOF then they should be recognized for them. There needs to be a wing added for the “The Steroid Era” because players during that era maybe would not have used PEDs if they had played back in another era. These players did cheat the game, but they just did what was happening during their era. Baseball cannot hide from its past, and should not keep trying to cover it up because it will just keep leading to more argument. The MLB and MLB HOF need to accept the dark history of baseball, and compare these players to the players of their own era, and give them the recognition they deserve.
Babe Ruth. Hank Aaron. Nolan Ryan. Cal Ripken Jr. These outstanding Major League Baseball players deservedly earned their spot in baseball’s Hall of Fame. Hank Aaron held the league’s home run record with 755 for 33 years, until it was broken by Barry Bonds at the height of the steroid era (Andy). Aaron has never been accused of steroid use; however, Bonds has. Nolan Ryan can be found at the top of the all-time strikeout list, but Roger Clemens is not far behind. Once again, the former has never been proven to have been on steroids, while the latter was found guilty. It is not fair to the players who achieved their greatness on their own merit to be surpassed, or even grouped alongside, those who cheated the game. The Hall of Fame needs to
Talk of Gibson's greatness has been glaringly absent from mainstream reporting on baseball. Let me share with you three examples of this error that I have encountered recently. The first occurrence I noticed recently was in a book published to commemorate the anniversary of the Yankee Stadium. In a section entitled, "the longest home runs hit in Yankee Stadium," Gibson is omitted entirely, although some of his home runs have certainly been among the longest balls ever hit in (or out of) that stadium. The second occurrence was in a recent New York Times article about Barry Bonds and his quest for the Major League home run record. It states, "as Barry Bonds builds a case as the best player ever, he also makes a run at being the most controversial and most unaccepted" (Jenkins). The most recent example was in a New York Times article regarding Mike Piazza, the catcher and slugger for the New York Mets. The article begins: "Mike Piazza, who has been playing more at first base than behind the plate these days, was honored last night for hitting more home runs as a catcher than anyone in baseball history" (Dicker). There are no mentions of Gibson, who played catcher throughout his career. His omission is his stake as the most unaccepted baseball great and his home run hitting prowess is the proof of his greatness. His exclusion from major league baseball is part of his legacy and one of the reasons his career deserves another look.
The Web. 6 May 2010. Fainaru-Wada, Mark, and Lance Williams. Game of Shadows: Barry Bonds, BALCO, and more! the Steroid Scandal That Rocked Professional Sports.
Major League Baseball (MLB) has widely been regarded as America’s pastime for the longest time, however it is now becoming known as the sport tainted by one thing, anabolic steroids. An anabolic steroid is related to the natural steroid, testosterone. They are able to stimulate growth in the muscle tissue. They usually increase muscle mass and strength. The MLB has created some of the most historic American icons, such as Babe Ruth and Ted Williams. Players like them showed us what it was like to play baseball the right way. They played with passion, heart, and above all they had fun playing. Players today in the MLB focus way too much on becoming the best player ever to play. They see what the greats did before them and they want to match them, so they turn to anabolic steroids. An example of this is Alex Rodriguez. In 2003 he tested positive for anabolic steroids because he was “naïve” and couldn’t take the pressure of his expectations of being called the best. He felt the pressure from the game and he turned to steroids. Anabolic steroids are ruining the game of baseball. They are tainting the records and the changing the game for the worse.
The 1919 World series resulted in the most famous Scandal in Baseball history. Eight players from the Chicago White Sox were accused of throwing the series against the Reds and were banned from Major League Baseball. (“History files-Chicago Black Sox”) All eight players were expelled in an attempt to save the purity of the game. The White Sox lost the opening game of the series nine to one, and then ended up losing the series five games to three. (“Black Sox Scandal”) They had won the American league pennant and were highly favored to beat the Reds in the World Series. (“Bankston, Carl. L”)
He was later inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1962. Jackie Robinson should not only be recognized for his on-field accomplishments, but for what it took for him to get there as well. Throughout all of the racism in America and baseball, he endured it and pushed through it to set himself up for ultimate success. He endured the hardships of being the only African-American in the league at the time and taking all the hate from the racists, while still putting up remarkable numbers. Even as a white man during the time of integration in baseball, you could have nothing but respect for Jackie Robinson.
...as fulfilled part of its duty by banning Rose for over 20 years; it has failed to acknowledge his on the field contributions. MLB has the duty of honoring the greatest players in baseball and those who are record setters; clearly Pete Rose fits into both of these categories. As the holder of multiple MLB career records as well as being considered one of the greatest players ever, Pete Rose has clearly made his mark on baseball. Thus, it is MLB’s duty to honor him for his accomplishments. MLB must now fulfill its second duty and reinstate Pete Rose so he can be acknowledge for his on the field play. With Kantian ethics, MLB’s sense of duty to the game requires the punishment of Rose, as well as the acknowledgement of him in the hall. With the time spent banned MLB has fulfilled one duty and must now allow Pete Rose in the hall to fulfill their duty to the game.
There are very many people who vote for players to go in the Hall of Fame, but many people may have the same opinion as Tom Verducci who stated,
The past fifteen years of baseball have contained dirty play by some of the best players to ever play the sport. Kids all over America look at these athletes as role models. The money hungry players proceed to send a terrible message to fans of the game by taking drugs to succeed. After commissioner Bud Selig cracked down on steroid use in 2005, several baseball player’s legacies have been ruined due to steroid allegations. Players are even being charged with perjury by lying to Congress over steroid use to protect their reputation.
Since at least the 1980’s performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) have been a major challenge in the world of Major League Baseball, and past trends indicate they will continue to pose an ongoing problem. A number of the most prominent and accomplished professional baseball players, such as Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Jason Giambi, Roger Clemens, are also the most famous examples of baseball players who have broken longstanding records, attracted countless numbers of fans, and allegedly have taken performance-enhancing drugs. Athletes who have been caught using steroids in order to increase and better their performance rates have been suspended, fined and traded from the teams on which they once played. Despite the punitive actions taken against them by the League and lawmakers, players continue to use performance-enhancing drugs and likely will continue to do so, because the associated athletic effects will draw more fans and bring more money to the individual player and franchise.
... Major League Baseball - By George Harvey - Rockland - Camden - Knox - Courier-Gazette - Camden Herald."Unfortunately, Money Still Flows for PED Users in Major League Baseball - By George Harvey - Rockland - Camden - Knox - Courier-Gazette - Camden Herald. Village Soup, 2 Dec. 2013. Web. 17 Dec. 2013.
“Jackie Robinson and the Intergration of Major League Baseball.” History Today. N.p.,n.d. Web 24 Mar. 2014
In 2007 Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record. However, it was later discovered that this was done while using performance enhancing drugs, forever casting doubt on his legitimacy as a player and whether the previous record should still stand. Another infamous player was Pete Rose who was accused of betting on his own team during the 1986 season causing him to be kept from the MLB Hall of Fame despite his exceptional career. Lastly, there’s Shoeless Joe Jackson of the Chicago White Sox who was banned from baseball for life after receiving money for throwing games in the 1919 World Series.