For the first time since 2013 the BWAA did not elect anyone to the hallowed halls of Cooperstown. Curt Schilling was 16 votes shy of the 75% needed for election. Other notables are Clemens who received 61.6% and Bonds who received 61.8%.
Both Bonds and Clemens are on their ninth year of eligibility meaning both only have one more shot next winter to get in as any player only has ten tries before being removed. Barring some miraculous change of heart by most of the writers or some radical rule change(s), I do not foresee either getting the call.
Whether you like it or not, Bonds and Clemens both cheated the game. Both put up years of artificially induced numbers during an era that the writers have made it clear that if you knowingly took PED’s, you were not getting in. It is a shame to see but I tend to agree with that stance.
In my view, they disrespected the game, its integrity, and all of the greats that played before them. The actions knowingly taken by Bonds and Clemens directly affected the game and its outcome. Their numbers would most likely be much lower had they not taken any performance enhancements. It is right there in the name “performance enhancements.” I will give you another, while I do not agree that Pete Rose should be banished from the game, I also do not believe he deserves to be in Cooperstown as he knowingly took actions that directly affected the outcome of the game.
Some writers have gone as far as comparing situations that do not equate. Off the field actions, beliefs and personality traits do not necessarily disqualify a player from the Hall of Fame in any sport. You cannot use that argument to somehow justify a vote for a player’s on the field actions.
Added for Bonds was his treatment of the writers for his entire career. Now, that is not the main reason the writers are keeping him out, but it certainly is an added factor as to why they have not eased their distain towards him.
Only time will tell if Bonds and Clemens get in but, in my opinion, it will take a radical rule change for that to happen.
