Will 2013 MLB Hall-of-Fame Class Strike Out?

While we have not even gotten to this summer’s MLB Hall-of-Fame ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y. (July 22), where Barry Larkin and the late Ron Santo will be inducted, there is much attention focused on the following year.

Yes, the “steroid era” will offer up several players that have been tainted for their reported use of illegal substances during their playing days. Most notably, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens will be up for election for the 2013 class in Cooperstown.

To give you a little perspective on the Hall for those not entirely familiar with it, only 297 men have been enshrined on these hallowed grounds. For many long-time baseball fans like me that have been lucky enough to visit the Hall, only the best of the best should be honored in this sleepy little town in New York State.

Five years following retirement, any player with a decade of major league experience that passes a screening committee (which deletes from consideration players statistically not qualified) is eligible to be elected by Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) members. In the event a player fails to be elected by the BBWAA within 20 years of his retirement from active play, he may be chosen by the Veterans Committee

Given the fact that more than 17,000 men have suited up in the big leagues over time, the idea that less than 300 are enshrined in Cooperstown since elections began some 75 years ago should tell you that only the truly deserving are there.

As many that follow professional baseball know, the inaugural class of 1936 included Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson and Walter Johnson. Yes, not a bad five to assemble an organization around if you had such a luxury.

Before I turn to discussing next year’s eligible members, here is one thing I would like to get off my chest.

Both Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson belong in Cooperstown.

Many fans are aware of these two superstars and as to why they are not in the Hall. While I am not condoning their actions that have kept them out of Cooperstown, there play alone speaks for itself. Having watched Rose play as a kid on up into adulthood, there has been no better hitter (all-time leader in hits) in my lifetime, nor anyone that played the game with the energy Charlie Hustle did. I vowed I would never pay to have a professional athlete autograph something for me; I broke that vow once and once only when I met Rose several years back at an autograph signing event. As for Jackson, his .356 lifetime batting average (more than 1,700 career hits) speaks for itself. Although I obviously did not get to see him play, anyone that studies up on his career knows that he was an offensive force in that period of MLB.

Now, those who will become eligible for the Hall in 2013:

Barry Bonds – A seven-time National League MVP, 13-time All-Star, 762 HR (1st all-time), 1,996 RBIs (4th), 1.051 OPS (4th), 2,558 walks (1st), 2,227 runs (3rd), single-season HR record (73, 2001), eight Gold Gloves, 12 Silver Sluggers, seven postseason appearances (one league title). The numbers are staggering to say the least, but will his conviction of obstructing justice from his federal court trial involving the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Op (BALCO) hurt him? Although Bonds has appealed the conviction, rightly or wrongly he is easily identified with MLB’s dark “steroids era” that tarnished the game. Throw in his less than stellar attitude towards the media and fans at times, and he could strike out at the ballot box;

Roger Clemens – A seven-time Cy Young Award winner (6 AL, 1 NL), 11-time All-Star, 1986 AL MVP, 354 wins (9th all-time), 4,672 strikeouts (3rd), two pitching Triple Crowns (AL, 1997, ’98), 12 postseason appearances (3 World Series, 6 league champions). Just like Bonds, Clemens’ numbers on the field alone will blow you away. The question begs, however, did alleged steroid use greatly enhance those numbers? The Rocket was awarded a mistrial on allegedly using performance enhancing drugs last summer, but a new trial was to follow. All the denial in the world may still land Clemens short of the votes needed to reach Cooperstown;

Sammy Sosa – The 1998 NL MVP, seven-time All-Star, 609 HR (7th all-time), three 60-HR seasons (1st), six Silver Sluggers, two postseason appearances. Along with Mark McGwire (who has not been able to make the HOF on several attempts despite 583 career homers), Sosa formed the one-two punch of an amazing season’s home run race in 1998. Allegations of performance enhanced drugs and a documented corked bat affair five seasons later great damage to Sosa’s chances to be honored one day in Cooperstown. Sosa also denied using PED’s during his playing days, but actions speak louder than words, especially the corked bat incident;

Mike Piazza – A 12-time All-Star, 1993 NL Rookie of the Year, 462 HR (most ever by a catcher), 10 Silver Sluggers, five postseason appearances (1 league champion). One of if not the greatest hitting catchers of all-time, Piazza was the face and backbone of the New York Mets in their 2000 Subway Series with the rival Yankees. Piazza has not been as big a target of the PED allegations (rumors are that he admitted off the record to using PED’s), so unless something breaks between now and when voters cast their ballots, don’t be surprised to see the former Rookie of the Year with the Dodgers gain entrance in Cooperstown;

Craig Biggio – A seven-time All-Star, 3,060 hits (21st all-time), 668 doubles (5th), 285 HBP (2nd), 1,844 runs (13th), four Gold Gloves, five Silver Sluggers, six postseason appearances (1 league title). Biggio formed a terrifying tandem with Jeff Bagwell, the Killer B’s, in Houston for many years. Not only did he play numerous positions during a 20-year career, but he is one of the last guys to have played their entire career with one organization. Do not be surprised to see Biggio go in on his first opportunity;

Curt Schilling – A six-time All-Star, 216 wins that included three 20-win seasons, 3,116 strikeouts (15th all-time), five postseason appearances (3 World Series, 4 league champions). Schilling’s dominance in post-season play should be enough to get him into Cooperstown, although I by no means think he is a lock. If voters include guts and determination, then Schilling should find his plaque on a wall at the Hall in the near future. If I were casting a vote for the 2013 Class, I would give Biggio and Piazza the nod without hesitation, have to do some more thinking on Schilling, and would have no problem keeping Bonds, Clemens and Sosa out.

For those that argue that I support Shoeless Joe Jackson and Pete Rose for the HOF, their baseball misdeeds did not involve performance issues on the field when they played, i.e. drugs.

It will be interesting to sit back and see how the voters weigh the PED issue when five of the biggest names of our era come up to bat next season.

So, who would you vote for of those mentioned above if your ballot counted?

Dave Thomas, who covers among other topics workers compensation and credit card processing, writes extensively for Business.com. He has also been a freelance sportswriter for more than 20 years.