Beginning with the Class of 1945, the Hall of Fame stated that voters should consider candidates “on the basis of playing ability, sportsmanship, character, their contribution to the teams on which they played and to baseball in general.” There’s the character clause. How much that clause should factor in decision-making has been under stress because of the PED era.
I believe there are players already in the Hall of Fame who used PEDs during their careers. Moreover, I think baseball’s Hall of Fame, or the other pro sports Hall of Fames, are far from all-saints clubs.
Former Commissioner Bud Selig was in charge during an era in which players’ muscles expanded, batted balls traveled 475 feet, relievers could pitch four consecutive nights and legendary players from previous eras had their records obliterated. Owners, general managers, trainers, coaches and teammates looked the other way as stats, and salaries, expanded.
I believe there were many instances of dirty pitchers throwing to dirty hitters during that time. When Selig was a first-ballot Hall of Fame electee in 2017, I wasn’t the only voter who wondered, “Why am I even trying to do the right thing here?” when he’s rewarded after overseeing those scandalous times.
Now here comes Rose, a confirmed rule-breaker.
Rose is far from a slam dunk to get into the Hall of Fame. First, he has to be placed on the Classic Baseball Era committee’s ballot that will be voted on in December 2027. That won’t be too big of a hurdle. After that, his case will be dug into, again.
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