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Mark McGwire: Hall of Famer?

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Discussion Started on Jan 12 2010 at 10:34:10 am
Discussion

Mark McGwire: Hall of Famer?

I doubt many of us are surprised that former MLB slugger Mark McGwire has admitted to using steroids and human growth hormone during his time in baseball. But what does it mean for his legacy?

First, check out this tearful interview he gave in the hours after coming forward (if you can't watch below, click here):



Then, review his statistics:
  • In 1998, he broke MLB's home run record (70) during a summer slugfest with Sammy Sosa, who finished the season with 66. They both surpassed Roger Maris, who held the previous record of 61 home runs in a single season.
  • He remains 8th on the all-time list of home run hitters with 583.
  • He is now (according to ESPN statistics) the sixth player in the top 15 all-time home run list to be linked, including unconfirmed reports, to performance-enhancing drugs.
Here is the text of his statement:

"Now that I have become the hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals, I have the chance to do something that I wish I was able to do five years ago.

"I never knew when, but I always knew this day would come. It's time for me to talk about the past and to confirm what people have suspected. I used steroids during my playing career and I apologize. I remember trying steroids very briefly in the 1989/1990 off season and then after I was injured in 1993, I used steroids again. I used them on occasion throughout the '90s, including during the 1998 season.

"I wish I had never touched steroids. It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era.

"During the mid-'90s, I went on the DL seven times and missed 228 games over five years. I experienced a lot of injuries, including a ribcage strain, a torn left heel muscle, a stress fracture of the left heel, and a torn right heel muscle. It was definitely a miserable bunch of years and I told myself that steroids could help me recover faster. I thought they would help me heal and prevent injuries, too.

"I'm sure people will wonder if I could have hit all those home runs had I never taken steroids. I had good years when I didn't take any and I had bad years when I didn't take any. I had good years when I took steroids and I had bad years when I took steroids. But no matter what, I shouldn't have done it and for that I'm truly sorry.

"Baseball is really different now -- it's been cleaned up. The commissioner and the players' association implemented testing and they cracked down, and I'm glad they did.

"I'm grateful to the Cardinals for bringing me back to baseball. I want to say thank you to Cardinals owner Mr. DeWitt, to my GM, John Mozeliak, and to my manager, Tony La Russa. I can't wait to put the uniform on again and to be back on the field in front of the great fans in Saint Louis. I've always appreciated their support and I intend to earn it again, this time as hitting coach. I'm going to pour myself into this job and do everything I can to help the Cardinals hitters become the best players for years to come.

"After all this time, I want to come clean. I was not in a position to do that five years ago in my congressional testimony, but now I feel an obligation to discuss this and to answer questions about it. I'll do that, and then I just want to help my team."

So, knowing all of that -- if you had a vote, would you elect McGwire to the Hall of Fame? Why or why not, and under what circumstances?
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    • Bday Tiara.jpg
      Katy
      GB Staff
    • Last Online: May 17 2012
    Discussion Started on Jan 12 2010 at 11:14:16 am
    Discussion

    The summer of 1998 was such a special one in America's history, so of course I am disappointed to hear that McGwire was using illegal substances during the home run chase.

    But I am thankful that even after years of dodging the questions, he is finally coming forward. I wish that athletes would be honest for the sake of honesty -- and not for the sake of a job, as it seems was the incentive for McGwire to admit the steroid use now.

    Should he be in the Hall of Fame? His numbers, juiced or not, seem to qualify him. I am starting to get behind the idea of letting players from the so-called "steroid era" into the HOF with a special note about the circumstances.
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    Discussion Started on Jan 14 2010 at 05:48:36 pm
    Discussion

    I know that it took a great deal of courage for Mark McGwire to finally come clean but if you let him in the Hall of Fame, it sends a message to others that if they are in the same position as Mark , then you must do the same for them. Once you open a can of worms it is too late to go back and try to do what is right.Too many atheletes make mistakes and finally come clean, or get caught, now they still want recognition for the past performance. I say no to him and any other athelete that shames the sport that they are being paid to perform in. I say hold your ground and make all atheletes accountable for illegal activities that the participate in.
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    • clouds-2.jpg
      TomB
    • Last Online: Dec 31 1969
    Discussion Started on Jan 26 2010 at 11:24:04 pm
    Discussion

    When I hear stories about steroids and baseball I get annoyed.  Not at the players that may or may not have used steroids, but at the media who have used this to enrich themselves.

    Who believes Babe Ruth or Mantle would not have used these to make themselves a better player.  We seem to expect ballplayers to ignore something that would give them the ability to excel at their craft, all the while management and the media were turning a blind eye.

    My question, if steroids are so bad because they give the players an edge over the players who came before them, Why do we allow players who have had "Tommy John" surgery to continue playing?  Before Tommy John had "Tommy John" surgery it was not available to anyone who had this injury.  Are the players who have had "Tommy John" not doing the same as the steroid users.

    Does Tiger Woods and today's golfer have an advantage over Jack, Arnold,  Byron and Sam since the equipment, course and balls have seen such technological advances.

    Let the media find a politician to hound and leave our Baseball players alone.
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    Discussion Started on Mar 14 2010 at 12:07:22 pm
    Discussion

    IF I COULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY , I'D VOTE FOR MARK TO BE INDUCTED INTO THE HALL OF FAME. I DON'T THINK WE CAN CONCLUSIVELY SAY THAT HIS GAME ACCOMPLISHMENTS WERE DUE SOLELY TO HIS STEROID USE. I'M HAPPY THAT HE HAS OPENED UP ABOUT HIS STEROID USE , AND RESPECT HIM MORE FOR THE COURAGE IT TOOK TO FACE THAT ISSUE. HE HAS DISPLAYED A STRONG CHARACTER IN DOING SO, AND I WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS WITH THE ST LOUIS CARDINALS IN HIS NEW POSITION. I DEFINITELY THINK HE SHOULD BE IN THE HALL OF FAME.
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    Discussion Started on Mar 16 2010 at 05:56:49 pm
    Discussion

      Mama_blue:

     

       I respect your opinion and views about Mark  McGwire but as I stated before if you let him in the Hall of Fame then you must do the same for every other athelete. I know that he has been an outstanding player, etc. etc. but when you cross the line, you should realize the outcome. 

     

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    Discussion Started on Mar 16 2010 at 05:56:58 pm
    Discussion

      Mama_blue:

     

       I respect your opinion and views about Mark  McGwire but as I stated before if you let him in the Hall of Fame then you must do the same for every other athelete. I know that he has been an outstanding player, etc. etc. but when you cross the line, you should realize the outcome. 

     

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    Discussion Started on Jul 15 2010 at 04:31:21 pm
    Discussion

    I am greatly disappointed by the willingness of some to accept Big Mac into Cooperstown after he along with numerous others during the "steroid era" tainted the history of the game by juicing their way to unassailable records.

    The man broke the rules and broke the law. He has no business having any association with the sport at all and I am angry that Tony Larussa would show such disregard for the severity of Big Mac's indiscresion and lack of character

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    • genericprofile-coffee-cup.jpg
      tem
    • Last Online: May 13 2011
    Discussion Started on Feb 04 2011 at 09:59:03 am
    Discussion

    I totally agree with you. If they can kick Pete Rose of of baseball for life (which I don't agree with) for betting on the game, then all the players that are/have used steroids in their careers should be banned, also...they're breaking the rules AND the law.

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    Discussion Started on Feb 10 2011 at 02:19:59 pm
    Discussion

     crocodile tears.  He's  a very big disapointment.  Ohh only crying because he got caught!

    No hall of fame for him!

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