(In addition to appearing at The Captain’s Blog, this post is also being syndicated at TheYankeeU.)
The holidays are also major league baseball’s Hall of Fame season. Once the ballot is released after Thanksgiving, hundreds of BBWAA members endeavor to narrow down the choices, and in the process, usually write about their selections ahead of the official announcement on January 5. As a result, an undercurrent usually emerges from the collective prose to offer a hint as to the eventual outcome.
Will the Hall of Fame turn its back on Bagwell because of rumor and innuendo?
Unfortunately for the likes of Bert Blyleven, Tim Raines, Roberto Alomar and Alan Trammell, there really hasn’t been a resounding sentiment that would foreshadow their deserved elections. Instead, the major theme of the process has been steroids. With the addition of Rafael Palmeiro to the ballot, the focus on PEDs is certainly understandable. After all, despite collecting 3,000 hits among many other accomplishments, the former All Star first baseman is now best known for his finger pointing denial in front of Congress just months before testing positive for a banned substance in 2005. Interestingly, Palmeiro, who joins Mark McGwire on the ballot as a qualified candidate stained by PEDs, still maintains his innocence, but the overwhelming sentiment is that he has virtually no chance of being elected.
I was telling the truth then, and I am telling the truth now. I don’t know what else I can say. I have never taken steroids. For people who think I took steroids intentionally, I’m never going to convince them. But I hope the voters judge my career fairly and don’t look at one mistake.” – Rafael Palmeiro, quoted by AP, December 30, 2010
Although no one can come close to knowing the true impact that steroids and other “performance enhancing” drugs actually have on the playing field, it is perfectly legitimate to hold an admission or failed drug test against a particular candidate. According to the Hall of Fame’s BBWAA elections rules, “voting shall be based upon the player’s record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.” Clearly, taking performance enhancing drugs calls into question the qualifications of integrity, sportsmanship and character. Of course, the impact of those qualities still has to be weighed against the overall contribution, not to mention measured against the prevailing attitude of the era. Nonetheless, when there is evidence of PED use, it becomes reasonable to disregard an otherwise perfectly deserving candidate.
Unfortunately, far too many members of the BBWAA have gone beyond the careful consideration of evidence and allowed rumors, unverified allegations and, even worse, mere hunches to factor into their decision. The chief victim of this perverted process has been Jeff Bagwell. Although some might argue that Bagwell wasn’t as dominant as other more prominent first baseman of his era, it’s nearly impossible to build a case against him on a statistical basis. Based on his numbers and reputation within the game, Bagwell should be a slam dunk, no doubt about it, first ballot Hall of Famer. So, what’s the problem?
Apparently, a large segment of the voting population has gotten it into their heads that Jeff Bagwell did steroids. In what Craig Calcattera perfectly labeled “Steroid McCarthyism”, several eligible voters have openly accused Bagwell of being tainted without offering one shred of evidence to support their vitriolic allegations. Instead, these writers have cowardly hid behind hunches, suspicions and undisclosed circumstantial evidence to not only smear an individual, but make the entire process seem so illegitimate.
Jeff Bagwell’s Career Progression, HRs and OPS+
Source: Baseball-reference.com
The baseless accusations against Bagwell are somewhat curious because his career followed the normal path that one would expect from a superstar player. At the age of 23, he broke into the majors as a productive player, had several strong peak years in his mid-to-late 20s and then slowly declined into his 30s until finishing his last full season at age 36. Unlike other players of the era, Bagwell did not resurrect a stalled career, nor find the fountain of youth in the years after his prime. He has repeatedly denied using PEDs, but that hasn’t stemmed the tide of cowardly innuendo. In fact, the repeated allegations have done so much damage that the truth probably doesn’t even matter anymore.
So much has gone on in the last eight or nine years, it’s kind of taken some of the valor off it for me. If I ever do get to the Hall of Fame and there are 40 guys sitting behind me thinking, ‘He took steroids,’ then it’s not even worth it to me. I don’t know if that sounds stupid. But it’s how I feel in a nutshell.” – Jeff Bagwell, quoted by ESPN.com, December 29, 2010
Another argument many have used against Bagwell is “guilt by association”. Although no evidence exists about his personal use, the theory goes, he still warrants a scarlet letter because of the era in which he played. Clearly, that’s a nonsensical approach to the issue that can’t possibly be applied with any consistency. In fact, one who holds that sentiment should recues himself from the voting process.
Over the past 10-20 years, it has become obvious that the voting process for the Hall of Fame needs a major overhaul. Just as it has demonstrated with its annual post season awards, the BBWAA is no longer uniquely qualified to serve as the sole arbiter of baseball’s greatest honor. Before the advent of the internet and proliferation of television, sportswriters, by virtue of their access, were among a select group of people with particular insight into the game. Nowadays, however, that is no longer the case. On the contrary, the aging BBWAA population has proven to be significantly out of touch with the game’s development, and therefore woefully inadequate in its role as a third-party overseer. This disintegration is perfectly illustrated by the dozens of trade group members who have deemed themselves qualified to serve as doctors and lawyers when considering Hall of Fame candidates.
The current electorate’s inability to see the distinction between Jack Morris and Bert Blyleven is disturbing enough, but its mob mentality in handling players like Bagwell is really the last straw. Using pens as pitchforks, some BBWAA members have torched reputations and tarnished accomplishments, all in the name of preserving the game’s integrity. In reality, however, the opposite has been true. Therefore, the time has come for major league baseball and the Hall of Fame to take a serious look at the electoral process as well as the qualifications of those casting votes.
There are many intelligent, thoughtful sportswriters who should remain a part of the process, but as recent events have proven, there are also many who should not. Simply being a tenured member of a trade group should not merit such a distinct honor. Last decade, baseball endeavored to clean up the game by enacting a strict drug testing regimen. This decade, it should aim to revamp the Hall of Fame election process by ensuring that a more deserving and better qualified group of voters is entrusted with preserving its history. It’s time to put an end to the age of suspicion, and those who wish to wallow in rumor and innuendo should be left behind.
Wonderfully done. You have penned what I’ve been saying all along about Bagwell. 449 HR, 488 doubles, 1500+ runs scored, 1500+ runs knocked in, 202 stolen bases (as a first baseman), only hit 40+ HR 3 times (in a steroid era when guys were popping 50, 60, 70+), .408 career OBP, career .540 SLG, career .948 OPS….and a career WAR of 80!! The important points about Bagwell – his progression into the player he became was normal for a baseball star, his numbers were also very normal for a baseball star, and finally, he has never been linked to steroids in either the Mitchell report OR in any other way and has never flunked a drug test. Jerry Crasnick’s article shed so much more about Bagwell and his injury to his shoulders. When you injure your shoulders and hope to even throw a baseball, good luck…you have a tough road ahead of you. All of the above (plus his work ethic) is why his former teammates support him, it’s why baseball lifers like Peter Gammons support him, this guy was an awesome baseball player playing in an unfortunate era, playing among ego-maniacs and peers without a conscience.
Very good blog. I’ve read both the articles on ESPN from Peter Gammons and Jerry Crasnick also and we need more people in baseball that share the same opinion as they do. The whole voting system in baseball needs a huge overhaul because its totally broken. Hall of Famer voters need to pull their heads out and get Blyleven, Bagwell, Gil Hodges, and Ron Santo in the Hall, soon.
Found this link on Baseball Reference while researching an argument for Bags and Bert into the HoF. Excellent article. The voters need to be seriously overhauled.
CONVERSATION BETWEEN TWO BASEBALL HALL OF FAME VOTERS
VOTER #1 = against Bagwell
VOTER #2 = Bagwell supporter
HOF voter #1 I’ve heard rumors that Jeff Bagwell used PEDs, so I will not vote for him on my Hall of Fame ballot.
HOF voter #2 Do you really think it is fair to exclude Bagwell from the Hall of Fame based on rumors?
HOF voter #1 Many players in that era were juicers, and Jeff Bagwell gained 10 pounds in body weight during his career. To me, that is suspicious.
HOF voter #2 So you think it is fair for you to say that you think he used PEDs just because he played in the steroid era, gained 10 pounds in body weight, and you heard a rumor. Don’t you realize that by saying that publicly, you are being unfair to Bagwell, and you could also influence other Hall of Fame voters?
HOF voter #1 I have a Hall of Fame vote, so I can say what I want.
HOF voter #2 Did you ever go to Houston and observe Jeff Bagwell in the weight room?
HOF voter #1 No, I never did, but what difference does that make?
HOF voter #2 If you had, you would know that Bagwell worked his tail off in the weight room. That is how he built his muscular body. And now what does he get for all that hard work – some jerk starts a rumor about using PEDs.
HOF voter #2 Here is another question for you. Why did you vote for Frank Thomas last year? He played in the steroid era, and his body weight increased from 245 pounds to 275 pounds during his career. What is the difference? Did you simply not hear a PED rumor about Thomas?
HOF voter #1 Well….that isn’t the only reason. Frank Thomas was just a better player. He was MVP, Silver Slugger, All Star, Home Run Derby participant, and he led the league in slugging, OPS, doubles, walks, and runs.
HOF voter # 2 Those are great accomplishments. Guess what – Bagwell accomplished all of those plus he was Rookie of the Year, and he also earned a Rawlings Gold Glove. By the way, Bagwell played every day in the field, and Thomas spent many years as a Designated Hitter. How can you say that Frank Thomas is HOF worthy and Bagwell is not?
HOF voter #1 For a player to be in the Hall of Fame, he has to have been dominant, and for a slugger to be dominant, he has to lead the league in Home Runs. Jeff Bagwell never led the league in HR, and he only hit 449 HR to Frank Thomas’s 521.
HOF voter #2 Well, Frank Thomas never led the league in HR either, so are you saying Frank Thomas was not dominant. If so, why did you vote for him as a first ballot Hall of Famer? True, Frank Thomas hit more HR than Jeff Bagwell, but it took him 18 years, and it only took Bagwell 15 years. Jeff Bagwell actually averaged more HR per year than Frank Thomas, and Bagwell was the most feared batter in the National League from the mid to late 1990’s.
HOF voter #1 I just think Frank Thomas was a better player, and I have a vote, so I can think and say what I want.
HOF voter #2 One more thing – Jeff Bagwell was the smartest base runner I have ever seen, whether he was going from first to third or stealing a base. He stole nine times as many bases as Frank Thomas did in his career.
HOF voter #2 Do you really think you have given Jeff Bagwell a fair shake? He was a better all-around baseball player than Frank Thomas, and he, like Frank Thomas, never failed a drug test.
HOF voter #1 You make some excellent points. I suppose it isn’t fair to Jeff Bagwell to assume that he might have juiced, and considering his fielding and base running abilities in addition to his batting prowess, maybe I should reconsider.
HOF voter #2 Jeff Bagwell was on the HOF ballot for the fourth time, and he is just as good a player as Frank Thomas whom you voted for last year and who was elected to the HOF in his first year of eligibility.
HOF voter #1 O K, I was wrong to “convict” Jeff Bagwell because of a juicing rumor. The rumor mill is incorrect more times than it is correct.
HOF voter #2 When you consider his clubhouse leadership, fielding, base running, and batting prowess, Jeff Bagwell is one of the five best first basemen of all time, and keep in mind — he never failed a drug test. I am not taking anything away from Frank Thomas. He is deserving of being in the Hall of Fame, but so is Jeff Bagwell.