This is a really eloquent & compelling explanation by Jeff Passan as to why Bonds & others should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame. And I’ll add… McGwire & Sosa literally saved baseball after the '94 strike, so keeping the “steroid guys” out is quite asinine tbh.

@JeffPassan You have no clue what you’re talking about

@JeffPassan Just bc you disagree doesn’t mean I’m wrong. It means your ego is too big & you’re too pussy to acknowledge anything other than what your little mind comes up with.

@JeffPassan Have somebody read this to you. If your mind can handle it

@GinaMuscato @JeffPassan Outstanding article, Thom. It encapsulated all my thoughts on the topic, especially as an HOF voter, only with better writing. ✊🏼⚾️ I hope you’re doing well.

@GinaMuscato @JeffPassan Thank you Peter.

@JeffPassan I'm 100% on board with Bonds being in. He was a first ballot HOF before he took anything. And he became the best hitter I've ever seen in my 61 years. McGwire and Sosa are not HOF in my opinion. Clemens is the same as Bonds for me. Should be in.

@JeffPassan That makes no sense. Pick a lane.

@JeffPassan I did pick a lane, but I guess I wasn't clear. McGwire and Sosa were'nt good enough for the HOF, even with steroids. Home runs aren't enough in my book, especially if you cheated for them. Bonds and Clemens were HOF quality before taking anything illegal! Slam dunk HOF!!!

@JeffPassan Are you ok? He hit 609 HRs.

@JeffPassan Look at his first 6 years. He was an ok hitter and a poor fielder. Heck, it took him 7 years to achieve an 800+ ops. Everything he accomplished after that was due to steroids. As I said, Bonds and Clemens were all time greats before any suspicion. Oh yeah, CORKED BAT IN 2003!!!

@JeffPassan Please explain what you mean when you say McGwire & Sosa “literally saved baseball.”

@JeffPassan It’s commonly known. If you need Google it’s there

So what you’re saying is you can’t explain/defend your position. Got it. They “literally saved baseball.” Seriously? We wouldn’t have baseball if not for McGwire and Sosa. So dumb. People regurgitate that line without thinking. But I’ll give you another chance. How did they literally save baseball? And if you want to rely on Google, then Google “did Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa save baseball?” Look at the first Reddit post. Somebody researched the attendance figures and TV ratings from after that season. They were both down. To say they saved baseball is asinine. Educate yourself.

@JeffPassan No what im saying is I’m not wasting my time. It’s not rocket science

@JeffPassan Sure thing. Whatever helps you sleep at night 🤣🤣

@JeffPassan

@JeffPassan I wonder what Kennesaw Mountain Landis would have to say.

@JeffPassan He was an idiot

@JeffPassan I guess so...gambling is as prevalent today than it was in Landis' day...and the league seems fine associating with gamblers...so why have any rules for entering the HOF at all?

@JeffPassan No, he was an idiot for extending the same consequence on Bucky weaver as the other players.

@JeffPassan It's called 'death by association'. Weaver's 'guilt' came about because he knew of the conspiracy and said nothing about it to his manager...which is every bit as much of taking part in it. Weaver should have spoken up, he didn't, and the rest is history.

@JeffPassan Stop with this myth about McGwire and Sosa "saving baseball". That's such BS. The fans returned after the strike, and other big moments got casuals interested like Ripken breaking Gehrig's record, Yankees winning the WS after 18 years, etc.

@JeffPassan You can’t deny the sport was rejuvenated bc of their HR race lol

@DomVapers @JeffPassan Rejuvenated yes. You said they “literally saved baseball” which is patently false

@DomVapers @JeffPassan It’s hyperbole on purpose get a grip lol

@DomVapers @JeffPassan Willing to bet a large sum of money you don’t have a clue what the word hyperbole means In your case thank God for Chat GPT

Most ppl you know probably aren’t familiar with words more than one syllable. You’re not talking to them now.

@JeffPassan My whole argument about these guys BEING IN THE HOF is this: did they do it YES, THEY PUT UP THE NUMBERS TO BE IN!! Now my question is this: WHY are the PLAYERS being punished (not in) BUT THE COMMISSIONER WHO KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON AND DID NOTHING—-BUD SELIG, IS IN THE HOF??🤷‍♂️

@JeffPassan Tough one. I was around many guys as a college athlete who took roids and the difference was incredible. That applied to baseball too with fast twitch muscles. The Balco case proved how far Bonds went with his HGH/Roids cocktail. Same with McGwire and Sosa who found the formula.

@JeffPassan He is absolutely correct.

@JeffPassan Yeah, respectfully disagree. It's comfy slippery slope from well, the worlds not perfect to we're going to take these players who "did a disservice to the game" and give them our highest honor. HOF can tell the roids story without enshrining the biggest cheaters.

@JeffPassan The steroid issue was more of a systemic one than a case/cases of individualized cheating. That’s on baseball. Baseball ignoring it at the expense of certain players &, more importantly, the history of the game, is what’s shameful about keeping Bonds & others out of the Hall.

@JeffPassan Disagree with Passan. You can’t undo the slime that’s already been put in there based on their standards of their day (racism); but you can certainly not honor/enshrine those who do not honor the standards and morals of the current day. To me, Bonds, Sosa and McGwire did not

@JeffPassan Bullshit, they cheated and they don’t belong in the HOF. If you have conclusive evidence that others did as well, then they should be removed from the HOF. If “gamblers “ don’t belong because they cheated, neither do the ‘roid crowd.

@JeffPassan The main reason is that baseball encouraged it. Looked the other way to save the game. Bonds and the rest didn't do it altruistically

@JeffPassan Saved baseball? Give me a break. Let's honor the cheaters for rescuing a game where both sides are so greedy they'd rather walk away than play. I'm supposed to feel bad for millionaire baseball players? Pro sports is so elitist now it makes me sick. I don't even watch anymore.

@JeffPassan So, get some financial backers and open the Juiced Hall of Fame. Or fund a separate wing at the Hall of Fame. They cheated.

@JeffPassan Disagree. Ripken breaking Gehrig’s record in ‘95 and the Yankees winning the WS in ‘96 were just as important. McGwire, Sosa and Bonds took away legitimate single-season HR race away forever. No one will get close to 73. You don’t reward that with the HOF

Let's not forget that McGwire (not sure about Sosa) was taking Androstenedione "Andro" which was LEGAL in MLB at the time he took it. It was not legal in the other three major sports.

@JeffPassan I have long said this and I agree.

@JeffPassan MLB should clear the way for the group of them, all at once, to go in front of the voters and let them have at it. I think they belong, but with very large (asteroid like) asterisks next to their names. These were GREAT players, just flawed. And stupid. But GREAT.

@JeffPassan No. You heard Jeff say there are others in the hall who took steroids. If you can’t put asterisks by all then it’s only fair it’s by none.

@JeffPassan I don’t know….the steroid period seems to me to be a wee bit more egregious. But I wouldn’t fight not putting it there.

@JeffPassan His hair belongs in the HOF

@JeffPassan Everyone was entertained by the steroid era so let them in.

@JeffPassan Totally agree.sportswriters have no business being in charge of who gets in. Fans elect all stars. Same should be true for HOF. Its not the hall of great stats and role models. Its about being famous because your a great player

@JeffPassan My logic is simple, MLB didn’t asterisk or vacate their records, all the records of Alex, Rocket, Barry, Mac and Sammy are in good standing. Voters should vote according to the record books, all their stats are legit according to Mlb.

@JeffPassan Baseball WAS saved by the ‘98 season, no doubt (Yankees fielding the greatest team in history played a part btw), but I respectfully disagree with the juiced guys getting in. I think the benefits of the ‘98 HR chase was outweighed by the negative steroid controversy. #’s matter

@JeffPassan The HOF is not the history of the game. It is to enshrine the greatest players of each generation. Letting him in makes a mockery of the records that legitimate players achieved.

@JeffPassan No it isnt. He is taking the easy way out. Baseball was coming back either way. He just doesnt his little memories to be tainted. It's easier and lazier to accept cheating

@JeffPassan @JeffPassan respectfully disagree. The "saved baseball" idea is silly. The '96 and '97 WS were great and well watched. Are we suggesting MLB would have gone out of business? And Ty Cobb was not a racist. Read the meticulously researched Cobb bio by @CharlesLeerhsen

@JeffPassan 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 They SAVED baseball?? Like the game would have folded without those 2 losers? The Yankees were beginning their dynasty. Baseball is always better when the Yankees are good With the BOS-NY rivalry the game would have been fine

@JeffPassan The way it is now is the way it should be. None of the juicers should be allowed in. How much of their "greatness" and how many of their final stats were the result of an artificially and chemically induced physical advantage over those who chose to play clean.

@JeffPassan Steroids have been used in sports since the 1960's and are still used today, there is no "steroid era"

@JeffPassan And also HOF Worthy... while completely unrelated... Donald Arthur Mattingly

@JeffPassan Bonds and McGwire ruined baseball. Turned it from a beautiful game of speed, strategy and fundamentals into the HR or strikeout boring game of today.

@JeffPassan Yes its asinine that they took steroids, dont give a fuck what they did in their careers. I think it is absolutely insane that people who cheated the game should be enshrined in Cooperstown.

@JeffPassan Hgh at that time was different then steroids 💉

They ruined baseball. Integrity of the game meant nothing. Their records should be purged. The great players of that era were diminished by these cheaters. Hank Aaron the biggest victim, lost the most prestigious record in all of sports to a cheater. All of them and Bud Selig should be cancelled from baseball forever.