McGwire Still Not A Hall Of Famer

McGwire Still Not A Hall Of Famer

Topic Author: Daniel Chanin

Posted: 11:05 PM Jan 17, 2010

Replies Posted: 7 comments

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Props to Big Mac for coming clean last week about his steroid use. It's nice to hear him finally "talk about the past." No question, it was the honorable thing to do, but he's still not a Hall of Famer in my book.

I grew up watching McGwire launch bombs at the Oakland Coliseum in the late 80s. I still remember when he hit 49 home runs to set a rookie record in 1987. I also remember him turning into a pop-up flyout hitting machine the next four years. He hit .260, .231 and .235 before bottoming out at .201 in 1991. Then, he transformed into a goatee wearing; red mullet bouncing; acne-faced freak the following season. Even as a 10-year-old kid, I had my suspicions that something was going on here. All of a sudden, the guy looked like a completely different person.

He quickly "re-developed" his power stroke, hitting 42 home runs in just 139 games in 1992, but he still hit only .262 that year. And while his steroid use and subsequent disfiguration is an issue, it is that AND his inability to do anything but hit home runs that prevents him from being a Hall of Famer in my eyes.

McGwire was a career .263 hitter. Even when he hit 70 steroid-powered home runs in 1998, he hit under .300. He also struck out an average of 138 times a year and had only 1626 career hits.

I'm not a scientist, but I'm going to say it anyway: without steroids, he wouldn't have hit 583 home runs. He wouldn't have even hit 500. And without the home runs there isn't a single attribute (save for maybe walks) that makes him worthy of enshrinement. After all, it's the Hall of Fame and even Roger Maris and his 61 legitimate home runs aren't in Cooperstown.

I know McGwire says steroids didn't help make him a home run hitter. I also remember a politician saying he "didn't have sexual relations with that woman." The fact is, Mark McGwire hit more long home runs than anyone who ever played the game and it's not even close. Watch his home run derby performance at Fenway in 1999 if you need any convincing.

The guy has a phenomenal eye and a great understanding of the strike zone. That makes a good hitter and a great hitting coach. However, only superhuman strength can make a man hit a ball 500 feet, sixty times a year. He can work out 24/7 and drink protein shakes night and day, but when something looks to good to be true, it almost always is. McGwire was no exception.

Don't get me wrong. I'm very impressed that the guy came clean. I even think the Hall of Fame has a place for steroid users, but not this one.

Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

by Daniel Chanin Location: KOLO on Mar 23, 2010 at 10:57 AM

Ed, I respect your point. Cheating is cheating and the Hall of Fame has always been clear on how it views players who don't respect the rules. However, in reading up on Barry Bonds and seeing him play, I think it's very clear he started taking steroids late in his career. I'm convinced, that had he stayed clean, he still would've hit 500 legitimate home runs and stolen 500 legitimate bases. That's a lock right there. The sad thing is that he, and a lot of these guys never needed to take them. Being a superstar wasn't good enough for the Palmeiros, Bonds', & Clemens', they had to be super machines.

by Ed Location: NV on Mar 21, 2010 at 07:14 PM

I think Mark hit enough homers to get him in the hall of fame but I also disagree with the statement that the hall of fame has a place for steroid users. None of them should ever be allowed in the hall. Without steroids they would never had done what they done. Look at Barry Bond. A skinny little kid then wow a home run hitting machine. I am sure that Ted, Joe and Stan would all worked hard to get there would not want them in there. I have been a baseball fan for ovef 70 yrs and they use to be heroes, but today kids can't look up to a lot of them

by Jimmy on Mar 12, 2010 at 10:20 AM

I have to agree with Daniel's original article and add in my opinion we cannot reward in any way McGwire's behavior. If McGwires steriod use was in some people view no big deal I have to ask, why was he doing it?

by Daniel Chanin Location: Reno on Feb 23, 2010 at 09:19 PM

Dan, Steroids may not help you swing a bat better, but there's no doubt they will increase home run totals. Take a look at mlb's top 10 home run hitters from last season (with the current strict steroid testing rules in place). Pujols led mlb with 47. Only five other guys hit 40. Then, take a look at 2001 when there was no testing whatsoever: Bonds led MLB with 73 HR. The next six guys on that list all had at least 47 HRs (as many as the 2009 leader Pujols). And five more had at least 40 HR. You can't tell me it's just a coincidence that those numbers sunk like a stone thereafter.

by Dan Location: Reno on Feb 18, 2010 at 05:25 AM

I have played baseball all my life. And anyone who has ever played knows swinging a bat has very little to do with braun. Its about the mechanics of the swing. If you think otherwise then explain to me wy the chubby little boy on the team who can get his weight behind a swing can't hit to save his life but the 50lb little guy can hit it out of the park! I lived in St. Louis when McGwire played and I gotta tell you he brought out the best in everyone back then. Everyone was rooting for Big Mac!!! Steroids didnt make him a great hitter cause if they did most of the guys playing the sport would have been hitting it out of the park too!!

by Steve Location: Sparks on Jan 23, 2010 at 10:40 AM

Get real He was a great player they all take some kind of something.Weather its LEGAL or not and by the way it was not then! He got to play a game most of us dream to play when we grow up. He made more money then i will make and is making more and by the way thats all that really matters in this world right .He doesnt have to worry about feeding his family or keeping his home. So he did something right. Its amazing to me in this day that the media really thinks i worry about that! I wish i was him and didnt have to worry about feeding my kids and just keeping my home! Lets talk about whats really important and by the way that was one of the most exciting times in baseball was Mark,Sammy,Bonds, and even Clemens so get over it and move on! He belongs as much as peter rose does. Did you ever stop to think if the babe didnt drink and smoke and maybe who knows back then thats he would not have been the Babe right!!