Kevin Duffy on Pete Rose, the Baseball Hall of Fame and the steroids era

Q: I have been watching a Pete Rose documentary on Max and I have to say there is something wrong with that guy.  He definitely is a gambling addict.  What are your thoughts on him being in the Hall of Fame?  I feel like he should for what he accomplished and how he played the game.  That is a far cry from guys who did steroids and cheated every day and are on the ballot! 

A: Rose definitely deserves to get in on merit, first ballot HOFer.  I might let him in after 20 years.  That's enough punishment for what he did.  We're all human so I'd err on the side of forgiveness.  As for steroids, practically everyone was doing it and the league looked the other way (they benefitted big time from the explosion of HRs).  I'm not a fan of making a few visible guys like Bonds, Sosa, McGuire, Clemens the scapegoats.  

There is no doubt in my mind that Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens belong in the HOF.  Bonds will be inducted this summer.  Clemens has failed to make the cut 10 times.  I have little doubt that he would've been a first ballot HOFer had he not used steroids. 

Q: I would agree about forgiving Rose.  He is an old man now and has served his penance so let him in.  The steroid guys were the best in their era but would they have been without the juice? 

A: a) I think steroid use was pervasive and b) the crackdown was largely after the fact.  There was a big window where this was all new, the adverse long-term effects not known and the rules not crystal clear and enforced.  On top of that, incentives matter.  Initially the league looked the other way because they benefited and didn't want to believe it would harm the athletes.  Kind of reminds me of concussions and football.  This was a systemic problem which is why I'm opposed to singling out a few individuals and have them take the fall.  For any organization, the best they can do is to admit a mistake, clean it up and move on.  Take responsibility!  After all, we're all human and make mistakes.  I think most fans will relate, appreciate the honesty and forgive.

~ Kevin Duffy, email exchange, September 24, 2024

Robert Higgs on the congressional investigation into alleged steroid use of Roger Clemens

Where in the Constitution does it say that Congress may interfere in the internal affairs of a private baseball league or its players? How exactly have these vainglorious congressional publicity hounds come by the idea that their jurisdiction has no limits?

~ Robert Higgs, “There's a Time and a Place for a Beanball” LewRockwell.com, March 3, 2008

Centennial of Baseball
1839-1939

Roger Clemens on steroid use allegations by Andy Pettitte

Once again, Mr. Congressman, I think he (Andy Pettitte) misremembers the conversation that we had. Andy and I's relationship was close enough to know that if I would have known that he had done HGH, which I now know, if he was knowingly knowing that I had taken HGH, we would have talked about the subject. He'd have come to me to ask me about the effects of it.

~ Roger Clemens, testimony before the House Oversight Committee on his alleged steroid use, February 13, 2008