Mark McGwire Left Out of Cooperstown Again as Writers Show Him Who Is Boss

Once again, under the cloud of alleged performance-enhancing drug use, Mark McGwire has been left out of the Hall of Fame. He received only 21.9 percent of the vote, so he's actually regressing amongst the electorate, dropping almost 2 percent since his first appearance on the 2007 ballot.

Being a die-hard Cubs fan, I wasn't the greatest McGwire fan during his career. When he embarrassed himself on Capitol Hill, it didn't help matters. But the more I am removed from his career, the more I believe it's a travesty to keep McGwire out of Cooperstown.

You can throw an asterisk next to his name if you'd like, but he was definitely a Hall of Fame-caliber player.

Keeping him out because of the suspicion that he used steroids -- it's still never been proven that he used more than androstenedione, by the way -- isn't really a strong argument. There were tons of players using steroids in the '90s. Does that make it right? Absolutely not. It's completely wrong. If we want to judge McGwire, when walking through the museum in Cooperstown, as a bad person or a cheater, that's our right. I don't think it's just, though, that the writers can simply decide for the general public that he should be left out of the Hall based upon morality when there are plenty of bad people already in there (Ty Cobb, just as one example).

As far as on the field, there really isn't any question that he's a Hall of Famer. McGwire hit 583 home runs, the eighth most in the history of baseball. He hit over 30 in a season 11 times, over 40 six times, over 50 four times, over 60 twice, and, of course he hit 70 in 1998 -- shattering Roger Maris' record of 61. Along the way he drove home 1,414 runs, good for 21st on the all-time list.

I've heard people whine about him not having 2,000 hits before, but that's a ridiculous stat to cherry pick. Why? Because he was so feared he walked 1,317 times. Combine that with his "low" hit total, and you have Big Mac reaching base almost 3,000 times in his career. To use this against him is simply inventing statistical reasons to justify keeping him out for personal reasons.

With his power and ability to draw the walk, McGwire ended up with a career OPS of .982, which is good for a 162 OPS+. Yep, he was 62 percent better on offense than his average peer. Jim Rice was enshrined today, and his OPS+ was 128. McGwire also won a Gold Glove and has a World Series ring.

It's clear that McGwire is being held out of the Hall by the writers as some sort of punishment for his past transgressions. They are surely looking at their vote as some sort of moral responsibility. It would be more responsible to simply put most famous and influential players from every era in the Hall. When someone visits Cooperstown in 50 years, they should learn about Mark McGwire, one of the best power hitters in baseball history. They should also learn that he likely cheated himself and the game.

So let's just enshrine McGwire, and -- if it's so damn important for everyone to know -- put on his plaque that he was suspected of steroid abuse, during a time when it was rampant in baseball. That's a win-win.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

1-12-2009 @ 3:33PM

Coach bobo said...

Ty Cobb's racism - and overall nastiness - reflected poorly on the game. Pete Rose and McGwire, however, did things that severely compromised the legitimacy of the game itself. Once people think that things aren't on the level, and that outcomes are compromised, then you might as well have Vince McMahon as commissioner. When you mess with the legitimacy of a multi-billion dollar product - and a damn fine sport - you've committed the ultimate error. Yes, the druggies, rapists and wife-beaters are way worse, but if we're talking about a shrine to the game of baseball, not humankind, then these two MVP's are the poster boys for nearly derailing the sport we know and love. One more thing: Huge, huge groups of players were juiced. It's not right that McGwire takes all the heat. But his cowardly testimony on Capitol Hill showed me that he considered the health of America's pastime secondary to his future autograph fees. So be it.

1-12-2009 @ 4:20PM

Matt Snyder said...

That's a very sound argument and well thought out post. Thanks for your comments.

1-12-2009 @ 3:34PM

giff said...

maybe he could give some of the andro he took or some of the steroids he says he didn't take and the writers would feel more 'strongly' about him...

this is his consequence for his actions, with ANY luck at all Bonds will suffer the same fate

1-12-2009 @ 4:15PM

Casey said...

Matt, I agree with ou 100%. Initially I too believed he didn't belong in the Hall but not any longer. Big Mac on field accomplished are among the best of all time. He did nothing illegal and has not been found guilty of anything. Along with Sammy Sosa, he energized the game in a way it hadn't been done since Babe Ruth and the Bronx Bombers. The chase for Maris in '98 may have made for the greatest ever individual all time season in the history of the game. Also don't forget, he would have hit over 60 homers in '95 or whatever the year was when he was traded mid-season from the A's to the Cards.
Also, regarding Pete Rose, he ought to be in the Hall as a player only. Don't they have categories for players apart from others? He deserves entry for the great player he was, and let everyone else judge him on the rest of it. His post playing career problems should in no way detract from his onfiled achievements. For crying out load, how can you keep the all atime hit leader out when the object of the game is to hit?

1-12-2009 @ 4:53PM

keith said...

I think Mark should go to the hall of fame,sammy& mark save the game after the strick. But that's not the reason,his HR's & 11 all-star game speak for themselves. But people allways believe the bad in people,it's easy to do that,maybe the sports writer's who never knew the feeling of hitting a HR or be one of the best in the bigs for so long are just jealous. If they keep him out,better start keepng out,Bonds and the rest,or is there a double standered,because of fame.

1-12-2009 @ 5:01PM

moe berg said...

The numbers you cite reflect the steroids, nothing more. By comparison, Rice and Henderson (and Andre Dawson, for that matter) did it on their own. The important question is, what would McGwire, Bonds and the others have done without the steroids? We'll never know for sure, but for sure they wouldn't have done better. So clearly voting them into the HOF would be rewarding their abuse of drugs. great message to send the kids.

1-12-2009 @ 5:36PM

T said...

All he did was hit home runs...What ever numbers you come up with it is because of the homers...and he might have had help to do that...Where is that hall of fame worthy

1-12-2009 @ 6:43PM

bachslunch said...

Some other things to consider regarding Mark McGwire and steroids:

1. even if it's ever proven that McGwire used steroids, note well that before 2002, Major League Baseball had no official policy against steroid use among players. McGwire retired in 2001. And if guys like McGwire and Sosa were juiced, it's most unlikely management didn't know about it -- but they seemed happy enough at the time to reap the financial and visibility benefits nonetheless.

2. we simply don't know who else may have used steroids during the 1990s or late 1980s, and some players active during that decade are already in the HoF. Do we know for sure that none of Rickey Henderson, Tony Gwynn, Cal Ripken, Goose Gossage, Wade Boggs, Ryne Sandberg, Paul Molitor, Dennis Eckersley, Eddie Murray, Dave Winfield, Ozzie Smith, Kirby Puckett. Robin Yount, Carlton Fisk, Nolan Ryan, and George Brett ever used? For example, was Ryan's superhuman ability to throw a fastball in his 40s chemically enhanced? Or was Puckett's bulky frame an indication of PED use? Maybe, maybe not -- we just don't know. But if even one of them did, it's hypocrisy to vote against McGwire.

3. there's no proof that steroids gave an edge to everyone across the board anyway. If only the big HR guys and big name pitchers had appeared in the Mitchell Report, one might have a much stronger case for that idea. But among the few big names are lots of players on the level of Bobby Estalella, Larry Bigbie, and Howie Clark, who certainly weren't tearing up the league any. I'm thinking steroid and other PED use was widespread during this 15-20 year period, and in a sense the playing field was relatively level.

Please note that I'm not saying it's a good things to use PEDs. I don't think it is at all.

1-13-2009 @ 9:51AM

Adam said...

I don't understand why McGwire should be inducted immediately. If you look at the history of HOF voting - there are a lot of examples of players who had to wait for no reason. For example - Eddie Mathews waited 5 years for induction - he retired with numbers very similar to McGwire in terms of 500HR, BA and OBP. At the time, 500 HR was a big deal and Mathews was the only player at the defensively demanding 3b position with 500. McGwire may have to get in and he may have to wait - but he is not automatic and he's not better than Mathews.

1-13-2009 @ 2:30PM

Dave said...

Once again the baseball sports writers have made a strong (read: SLAM DUNK) case for not only taking the right to vote (elect) Hall of Fame members out of their hands, but also the right to vote for post season awards. A prime example is the block of writers who, regardless of the candidates overwhelming credentials, refuse to vote for said candidate in their first year of eligibility. Throw in the writers who waste one (or several) of their votes on the likes of: Jesse Orosco (1 vote), Matt Williams (7 votes), Jay (who?) Bell (2 votes). Regardless of our suspicions and doubts, Mark McGwire has never been convicted of using any illegal substance, the 1 suppliment (Andro) he was known to use (BTW: no one would have ever known about that if some reporter wasn't snooping around in his locker where he had no right to be) was an approved over the counter suppliment by MLB. To keep out the likes of Bert Blyleven, Louie Tiant (compare his stats to Drysdale, Hunter, Newhouser), Andre Dawson, Gil Hodges ( in fairness I have to put this one on the veterans comittee also), Lee Smith & Tim Raines is more the adequate proof that the system needs to be changed. Lets go back in history a bit, it was the "sports writers" who prevented the likes of Joe Dimaggio & Harmon Killebrew from being elected in their first year of eligability, and also by leaving him completely off his ballot, cost Ted Williams the MVP the year he batted .406. It was also these same writers who voted Rafiel Palmiero the gold glove at first base after playing approx. 40 games at the position that year. It is time to allow those who have the most direct knowledge of those who deserve these honors to vote, "THE PLAYERS". Put the HOF vote(s) into the hands of a select group of retired players every year (example: 50 with 10+ years MLB time from each decade dating back to the 1940's) and allow all current players to vote for ALL post season awards. While there are many good and impartial sports writers, there are more (eligable to vote) who have grudges against a certain player, and also agendas related to their own misinformed standards. Only those who work and play in the game have the proper knowledge and understand of what it takes to be a Hall of Famer or to achieve the level of excellence it takes to deserve post season awards. And while I am on a roll, I read the sports pages to see how my favorite teams and players performed ON THE FIELD, I could care less who they are sleeping with, how many strip clubs they went to or how much they may have spent on their 12 luxury automobiles and 5 mansions. If your a "Sports Writer" write about sports, if you care more about tearing down someone for their personal lifestyle, get a job with the National Enquirer!

1-13-2009 @ 5:58PM

rcott said...

You want McGuire in the Hall and not Pete Rose? Rose's accomplishments make him a giant in baseball history, and there's no evidence whatsoever that he ever cheated. Okay, he broke a rule and gambled, but he maintains that he never bet on a Reds game, and given his competitiveness on the field that seems like a pretty credible story. The Commish is ticked because Pete won't apologize. The Commish has appologized for his gaffs the last few years? Baseball needs to recognize Pete Rose and install him in the Hall where he belongs. As for McGuire, let him and Clemens suffer their consequences for cheating.

1-13-2009 @ 7:20PM

If that first sentence was directed at me ... I never mentioned Rose. He's not eligible, so I didn't discuss him.

Yes, I think he should be in the Hall of Fame.

1-13-2009 @ 6:29PM

BIGAL said...

First, I don't condone the use of any drugs, period. But, please remember that when those that are being condemed now, are accused of taking steriods when it was not banned by baseball. Secondly, why is it baseball as a whole is willing to forgive, and give multiple second chances to drunks and drug users, but want to hang those accused of, but not proven, to have taken steriods? Perhaps we should throw out the drunks first, lead by Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle etc. and all others that gave professional players a bad name. Stop being babies, until you can prove these players took steriods, and the taking of steriods made the difference between being a Hall of Famer or not, vote them in. I watched a very interesting show, where doctors stated a player on steriods could hit a ball 20 longer than the same player not using steriods. If you are not a great player, you don't get the amount of hits and home runs Mark and others did. Taking steriods may make you stronger, but they don't make you a better hitter. Let's remember when Babe Ruth hit 60 HR's the fences were much further away. Let's put an asteric on all players of the modern era stating they were hit in a band box, those not to be considered worthy.

1-13-2009 @ 9:33PM

Bro said...

What McGwire said in Congress is the ONLY thing keeping him out of the Hall. Baseball can't prove anything against him. He said what he took. It was nothing any of us couldnt but at the local GNC.
Are we to be so naive to believe only hitters are guilty? They call it the "Steriod era" Both hitters and Pitchers!!
I believe he'll get in. But it will be a long time.

1-13-2009 @ 10:27PM

the bad bagger said...

98% of professional athletes are on steroids or some type of illegal performance enhancement drugs, then and now. They are just finally getting caught.
Who cares about the hall of fame anyway I just love the game enhanced or not.
It was exciting when Mark was breaking the record why not just leave it at that. Mark has been guilty until proven innocent.
Without athletes in baseball like Mark the sport would be dead.

1-14-2009 @ 9:34PM

coachbobo said...

How many twits have to write about steroids and how long a home run goes? It's not about an increase in homer distance that makes steroids so unfair - it's that the drugs allow hitters to physically recover - day-after-day - much faster than players who are playing on the level. Fast muscle recovery means fast bat speed. Day in, day out. Brady Anderson anyone? That's why Mac and Bonds pounded homers day after day after day. Recovery. And that's why everybody's now struggling to hit 45 a season.

1-14-2009 @ 11:30PM

Tom said...

When the steriod issue first came up my first thought was NO SHIT! Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire saved baseball. They brought fans to the ballparks and the owners made millions off them. Wow the owners have hung these guys out to dry. How about the writers who vote. The only thing they know about baseball is they couldn't play it!

1-14-2009 @ 11:01PM

Birdsofplay said...

If for nothing else, the way the country got behind his chase for the HR record, and brought baseball back from the brink of extinction (after the strike that cost the game a world series), makes him a HOF'er in my book.

No one's proven that he did anything to compromise the rules of the game.

If someone wants to argue that his stats are not worthy of the Hall, so be it,...we can agree to disagree. But if you want to hang him, because of a suspicion,...or because he didn't rat out his peers, when called to give testimony to the real hypocrites in this world (our elected politicians in congress), then all I can say is that you are spineless.

And yes, absolutely,...Pete Rose belongs in the HOF too.

"I live for this"....