Mrs. Szabo
ENG – 102
5 December, 2012
Hall of Famer? Major League Baseball (MLB) has always been one of the worst offenders of players engaging in questionable behavior. With the MLB featuring as a key example in the steroid debate, how can the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) electors decide which players are eligible to be inducted into the Hall of Fame? Located in Cooperstown, New York, the National Baseball Hall of Fame is in anticipation for new members. An election is held each year, no later than January 15th, for players to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. The electors from BBWAA consist of retired baseball players, which have been active writers for the BBWAA for at least ten years. These writers are able to select up to ten candidates on each year’s ballot. The ballot consists of candidates which have to meet requirements before being eligible for election. Requirements such as, retired players must have been active twenty years before, or ceased play five years prior to the election; along with a minimum of ten years played in the MLB. Voting is based on a player’s record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played. A player must receive 75 percent of the BBWAA votes in order to be admitted into the Hall of Fame. All included are essential components in becoming a Hall of Famer. The BBWAA uses these election rules to designate players into the Hall of Fame (National Baseball).
The National Baseball Hall of Fame is a venue that celebrates the greatest athletes who have ever played the game. However, it becomes difficult to decide who gets into the Hall, with a sporting world that is notorious for cheating allegations. The most talked about players in the steroid debate include: Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Roger Clemens. These players have been caught in relations to the steroid debate with notable evidence and should
Cited: “Alex Rodriguez Press Conference: Steroid Use Discussed (VIDEO)” The Huffington Post. 25 May. 2011: Print. “Barry Bonds gets probation, house arrest for obstruction of justice.” CNN Wire. Dec 16 2011. Expanded Academic ASAP. Web. 3 Dec. 2012. “Baseball great Roger Clemens found not guilty of perjury.” CNN Wire. Jun 19 2012. Expanded Academic ASAP. Web. 3 Dec. 2012. Berman, Mark. “Hall of Fame & Steroids-Let ‘em In!*” Blogging Mets. Dec 17 2009. Web. 7 Nov. 2012 Curry, Jack Higgins, Mike. “Should baseball players who have used steroids be considered for the Hall of Fame?” Online Posting. Jan 12 2010. Helium. Web. 7 Nov. 2012. .National Baseball Hall of Fame. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. Schmidt, Michael. “Sosa Won’t Be Pursued on Perjury Charges.” New York Times. B.16. May 27 2010. New York Times; New York Times. Web. 2 Dec. 2012. Shpigel, Ben. "Players Linked to Steroids Receive Minimal Support." New York Times: B.17. Jan 06 2011. New York Times; New York Times. Web. 14 Nov. 2012. “Strike out? Should steroid users be banned from the baseball Hall of Fame?” Current Events, a Weekly Reader publication. Mar 02 2009: 7+. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. Wilson, Mark. “Mark McGwire 's disastrous performance in front of Congress in 2005 has tarnished his public image.” Getty Images. 2005. Print. Zinser, Lynn. “The Jury to come: Hall of Fame voters must judge.” New York Times. June 19 2012. B13(L). Expanded Academic ASAP. Web. 13 Nov. 2012.