Question:
Do you think that Bonds should be in the Hall of Fame?
KEVIN
2008-06-15 17:04:11 UTC
As a DIE HARD Giants fan I have watched Bonds very closely for the past 15 years. Honestly I'm torn about this, from a pure baseball lovers prospective. Had he never taken steroids and put up the same numbers as he did as a Pirate he's a first ballot Hall of Famer. On the other hand, I've watched and paid good money to see this SOB cheat and rob baseball of one of the greatest records. So I pose the question should he be in the HOF? Had he not been a POS steroid cheater he would have made it. Does the fact that he clearly cheated take away from that? I think it does and I think that it is a shame.
Twenty answers:
blueyeznj
2008-06-15 18:14:07 UTC
Yes, he clearly should. He won 3 MVP's before any hint of steroids swarmed around him. He was easily the most dominant player of the 90's. Not Griffey, not Sosa, not Rodriquez, not anyone else. And if you take the time to really analyze his accomplishments during that decade, it's not even close.



If he retired in 1999, before anyone ever hinted he was taking anything stronger than an aspirin, he would've made it. I don't see why that should change, especially given the fact he never got expelled or even sanctioned by baseball for what the bloodthirsty, hypocritical public thinks he did.
johnvilla50
2008-06-15 18:41:32 UTC
NO. Below is Section 5 of the Baseball Hall of Fame's "Rules for Election". He is sorely deficient in integrity, sportsmanship and character which are 3 of the 6 qualities the HOF requires of a player. Basically, it is the same reason Pete Rose isn't in and what should keep Bonds out (even if he is not convicted).
gdt1967
2008-06-15 17:14:48 UTC
I'm not a Bonds fan, but his numbers say he should, regardless of the period which is seen to be tainted.



Bonds was highly talented and that's what the HoF is about.



Also in 20/50/100 years time people will look back and see how far he went just to achieve his goals, so let him have his corner of the HoF so that future fans & players remember what he did to the game, good and bad.
2008-06-16 09:58:46 UTC
Unlike the so-called "experts", childish, immature people, fake fans and bandwagoners that claim Barry Bonds is a "cheater", I'll answer this on behalf of true baseball fans that have endured worse controversies before Barry Bonds started his career.



1. He definitely did take steroids under the care of a physician and had a prescription for them while injured. He also took them "recreationally" without dr's approval but did not abuse them, otherwise he would have died in 2003-2004 of suicide or complications related to steroid usage.



2. Steroids cannot help you throw 100+ MPH fastballs or hit a ball exceptionally far and with superhuman strength due to it clouding your eyesight so that you cannot see clearly, it makes your muscles too tight so that you cannot throw the ball to homeplate or swing the bat in a proper manner and it definitely cannot help anyone due to destroying your psyche, which you need in order to focus on the job at hand. If you're moody, irritated, distracted and losing focus on one particular thing like playing baseball, you cannot play the game at all with those mental symptoms.



3. If Barry had "disgraced" baseball, "robbed it's innocence, "shamed" the game, built the "steroid era" or destroyed the integrity of the game, then why are fans still filling the seats, purchasing team/player merchandise and hitting the turnstiles?



4. Younger fans and the ignorant don't take George Herman "Babe" Ruth's womanizing, eating disorder and alcohol abuse, Mickey Mantle's alcoholism, Pete Rose's "breaking" written baseball rules with gambling, Henry "Hank" Aaron's amphetamine (speed) abuse or Ty Cobb's blatant racism against all non-whites into account as being a bad person, but freely pick on Barry like he murdered someone? All he did was take PED's when they were not banned or illegal substances in baseball or written in as part of the "rules of baseball", which to sensible people and true baseball fans would constitute as "legal" activities.....



5. His "personality" is suspect, but totally made up by Barry (celebrities tend to act "abrasive" to protect themselves and their families at the expense of looking bad.....) and the media themselves. I had the pleasure of meeting Barry where I worked (EA Sports) and he was a totally normal person that did not display any "hangups", irritation, impatience, belligerence or nasty behavior that people that don't know him think he acts like. He is genuine, will shake your hand, takes the time to chat, will sign autographs freely and does not walk around like he owns the world. He's as normal as they come.



6. He definitely is HOF 1st ballot inductee material and based upon his natural talent and good batting eye, he will enter the Hall on those merits as well as holding the career and season HR records.
Baseball Nerd
2008-06-15 17:38:54 UTC
What I've always said is if you get at least 500 HRs and don't cheat, you're definitely in. Not to say that you HAVE to get 500 HRs and not cheat to get into the Hall. Just saying that if someone does they should be in, like Frank Thomas and Jim Thome (as far as I know neither of them have cheated). So to answer your question, NO BARRY BONDS SHOULD NOT BE IN THE HALL OF FAME.
2008-06-15 17:09:31 UTC
No. He cheated his way to become the all-time home run leader. He didn't deserve what he got, and he took away something from someone who actually worked to get it. Hank Aaron should still be the home run leader, and Bonds should'nt. Why? Because he cheated. So Barry should not be in the Hall of Fame.
bob walker
2008-06-15 17:25:17 UTC
He can be in the Hall of Fame. Just let him buy a ticket like you and me.

I think the fact that he disgraced himself and made such a mockery of things is enough to exclude him. And McGuire. And Sosa. And Rose, for other reasons.

Oh yeah, Palmeiro, too.
Thomas O
2008-06-15 17:13:18 UTC
Thats a good question, I can't really give you an answer but think about this, yes he did cheat by taking steroids but he still had to have some good contact and discipline to hit all those home runs.
St. Louis Cardinals Fan
2008-06-15 17:12:34 UTC
Your right, I agree. Had he not cheated, then of course he'd deserve to be in the HOF. But he cheated. People say "Oh yeah but he still did well with other things" and all that crap. But he cheated, that's all the matters for this. He doesn't deserve to be in the HOF, period.
Joel
2008-06-15 17:15:35 UTC
Never. I believe he used steroids and ruined the integrity of baseball. Every one of his records, especially the home run record, deserve asterisks. Even better - remove them from the books!
Mr. Joey H
2008-06-15 17:14:29 UTC
pre sterioded barry bonds was allready an HOF'er with 500+ hr's and 400+ stolen bases. greed took over this mans career, he couldnt accept that he wasnt naturally a 700 home run hitter like ruth or aaron. its just a shame. damn shame.
subsine
2008-06-15 17:25:58 UTC
just think Of him giving an acceptance speech ,and who would want to be on the stage with him ? he's a cheat ,NO The " Jints " are one club that do not have a sure fire Hall of Famer, a truely miserable organization.
beck_x_4
2008-06-15 17:28:05 UTC
Bonds should be in the Hall!





As soon as they reopen Alcatraz as THE HALL OF SAME! A two year sentence should be implemented for all players and athletes that do steroids, break laws or just don't understand they are sideshows for ESPN to exploit! Collage and Pro!!!



Sure they are high priced commodities to there cities and their teams. I think all the delinquent athletes could be more valuable to our society as as examples! If anything else they would at least be off the streets...
2008-06-15 17:17:19 UTC
he was HOF worthy if he hadnt cheated with the whole 500/500 club thing but he screwed hisself by wanted to be the home run king for which people still dont even see him as. so no
JJ_White
2008-06-15 20:11:20 UTC
Yeah he shouldn't go to the hall of fame at all...he's a freakin cheater everybody knows that and it wouldn't be right to put a freakin cheater in the hall of fame...
2008-06-15 18:09:38 UTC
GO DIE HARD GIANTS FAN

For his Acoplishments: yes

For His cheating: No

Overall: NO

He took steroids

No way
crazy4nostalgia
2008-06-15 17:13:02 UTC
Had he never taken steroids he would've never been famous. It's the steroids that mostly contributed to his performance. He would've just come and gone and McGwire would still be the seasonal home run king. Aaron would also be the career king. That, and the steroid issue wouldn't be so heated.
2008-06-15 17:12:43 UTC
NOT IN A WING.....MAYBE IN A WARD
CUBS ARE BETTER
2008-06-15 19:01:56 UTC
NO never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ever!!!!!

Same would go for McGwire, Clemens, Sosa, Palmeiro etc.
cda24fan
2008-06-15 18:46:51 UTC
NO


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