Will Gary Sheffield make it to the HOF?

[suicide_squeeze]

Whether you think Sheff should be voted in or not, it will be particularly interesting to see how he is viewed by the BBWAA.

He had the ability to be a Hall of Fame player, barring steroid aid, hitting 500 homers is still a MONUMENTAL feat in the game.....but this era has seen a bunch of those guys, ans the first major basher to get to the voters (McGwire) has not fared well. But it's early.

The real question with Sheff is: How will his past racial comments and gripes be viewed by the voters? Or, because Gary always throws the race card around, will the voters automatically avoid that issue for politically correct reasons alone? That issue alone makes his "consideration for the Hall" a whole different discussion.....talent-wise, I think he's done enough in his career to squeek in....the other issues mentioned will no doubt keep him out for a few years...

Anyway you look at it, the next 4-6 years are going to be really interesting. I can't wait to see how the voters handle Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. These should turn out to be the two most controversial "votes for the Hall" in the history of the sport. McGwire is still being punished because he just won't come clean. He would most definately be forgiven because he was a tremendous ambassador for the game, and a likeable guy. But people just won't accept his lack of contrision of what we all know. He may blow his chance to get into the Hall if he doesn't change his stance.....come clean Mark, the Hall will follow. If ANYONE will be forgiven, it will be YOU.

Time will heal this "steroid era". It got out of hand, the record books were assaulted, but we all know, and the timeframe in this great game will always be acknowledged and recognized for what it was; A group of chemically morphisized giants who stepped over natural human boundaries to improve their performances on the field.

And unfortunately for Gary Sheffield, he will grouped into that category because of his brief stint of friendship with Barry Bonds, and self admission that he used. Who knows what the real truth is.

[David]

It's not even a steroids versus no-steroids debate. Sheffield isn't a Hall of Famer if compared only to his steroid-era contemporaries-- Piazza, Frank Thomas, Greiffey, Bonds, Alomar, Clemens. Raphael Palmiero was a superior ball player to Sheffield, in part because Palmiero was a team player and a good fielder.

[suave1477]

And unfortunately for Gary Sheffield, he will grouped into that category because of his brief stint of friendship with Barry Bonds, and self admission that he used. Who knows what the real truth is.

Actually he didnt admit to taking roids because he didn't inject anything into his BUTT lol lol

[skyking26]

After watching him in Detroit here; not a chance... The longer he hangs on, it becomes less by the day.

[reed1216]

I actually think Sheffield has a good shot at the HOF, assuming Clemens, Bonds, or another proven PED user gets in. Throughout his career, Sheff has been one of the games most feared hitters and has put up numbers worthy of the Hall. While his attitude has been questionable, there are a number of HOFers with attitudes that were at least as bad, during their playing days.

As far as the steroid issue goes, once one proven steroid user gets in, it opens the door for everyone else...

[suicide_squeeze]

I actually think Sheffield has a good shot at the HOF, assuming Clemens, Bonds, or another proven PED user gets in. Throughout his career, Sheff has been one of the games most feared hitters and has put up numbers worthy of the Hall. While his attitude has been questionable, there are a number of HOFers with attitudes that were at least as bad, during their playing days.

As far as the steroid issue goes, once one proven steroid user gets in, it opens the door for everyone else...

And that's a big questionmark at this point....

Will it ever happen?

[reed1216]

I think it will happen. If there was a fool-proof way to exclude any and all PED users from the HOF, I think they'd be excluded, but there isn't. I imagine that several PED users who haven't been named will be inducted. Things should get really confusing if someone gets inducted and later on is named as a PED user.

For the sake of argument, let's say Ivan Rodriguez is inducted and later found to have used steroids, HGH, etc. If this happens, it'll be real tough to keep guys like Bonds, Clemens and Sheffield out. I think there are fans and probably writers who are suspicious of everyone from this era. The only fool-proof way to keep all PED users out would be to close the Hall to everybody from this generation and that won't happen.

[cordovacollector]

[quote=reed1216;138706].... I imagine that several PED users who haven't been named will be inducted. Things should get really confusing if someone gets inducted and later on is named as a PED user.[quote]

Personally, I think one is already in there. And a guess is that it will come out only after The List is out and the rest of the discussion gets hot.

[cordovacollector]

And that's a big questionmark at this point .... Will it ever happen?

.... I imagine that several PED users who haven't been named will be inducted. Things should get really confusing if someone gets inducted and later on is named as a PED user.

Personally, I think one is already in there. And a guess is that it will come out only after The List is out and the rest of the discussion gets hot.

[suicide_squeeze]

Personally, I think one is already in there. And a guess is that it will come out only after The List is out and the rest of the discussion gets hot.

O.K. cordovacollector.........who's your guy?