Schmidt: McGwire should be in Hall; Palmeiro tougher

[Dr. Jack]

Associated Press


CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Mike Schmidt says Mark McGwire should be in the Hall of Fame.

Schmidt, the former Phillies great and Hall of Famer -- now working as a special instructor during spring training for Philadelphia -- has a book coming out soon called "Clearing the Bases: Juiced Players, Monster Salaries, Sham Records and a Hall of Famer's Search for the Soul of Baseball."

As the title suggests, Schmidt believes that steroids and other factors, such as homer-friendly ballparks and advanced equipment, have tainted the record book. However, he maintains that those suspected of steroid use shouldn't be shut out when it comes to the Hall of Fame.

Schmidt said if he had a vote, he'd put McGwire in the Hall.

"You have to judge him against his peers in the game," said Schmidt, who hit 548 homers. "He hasn't been banished from the game like [Pete] Rose, and his accomplishments on the field stand for themselves."

McGwire hit 583 home runs and has never admitted using performance-enhancing drugs.

Schmidt said Rafael Palmeiro, who was suspended last season after testing positive for steroids, should be judged differently.

"Palmeiro is a stronger issue because of what happened over the past year," Schmidt said. "I have to have more facts. I might pass on him in the first year of eligibility without all of the facts."

Among the other topics in the book is Pete Rose, whom Schmidt ardently backed for years as the all-time hits leader attempted to have his lifetime ban for gambling lifted by Major League Baseball.

After Rose admitted in a book of his own that he bet on baseball, Schmidt backed off his support.

However, Schmidt doesn't believe it's right that Rose's appeal has sat in limbo in the commissioner's office.

"I'm always there for Pete," Schmidt said. "Major League Baseball has created this Pete Rose purgatory, and that's where he is. I don't think he would mind if the commissioner said no, if the committee voted no."

[Joe D]

McGwire should be a first Ballot.

[jaypasco]

Originally Posted by TDS

McGwire should be a first Ballot.

palmeiro too

[Joe D]

If Bonds goes in on the first ballot, they should as well.

Palmero probably won't though.

[jonnyblaze]

Disagree with Palmeiro. He is the only one who has been unequivically caught by the MLB testing policy, so he's a no go in my book.

Bonds, big Mac, Sosa, in on first ballot.

[Dr. Jack]

I agree McGwire is a first ballot HOF but you can’t honestly compare McGwire or any of these guys with Barry Bonds.

Bonds is one of the 10 best players of all time
McGwire was a great homerun hitter – nothing more
Palmeiro was probably underrated and very consistent.

[jonnyblaze]

Originally Posted by Dr. Jack

I agree McGwire is a first ballot HOF but you can’t honestly compare McGwire or any of these guys with Barry Bonds.

Bonds is one of the 10 best players of all time
McGwire was a great homerun hitter – nothing more
Palmeiro was probably underrated and very consistent.

All true Dr. Jack.

But the issue and commonality is they all had hall of fame careers, independent of comparison. They only discussion is the "cheating" aspect and how each individual views the severity of it for each player.

While Bonds in clearly the best of the bunch, I think it goes without saying that all four get into the hall without the cloud of steriods.

[Dr. Jack]

Gaylord Perry – hall of fame
Admitted and it’s accepted that he cheated.

People hate Barry Bonds. If there were ever a player where people in an overwhelming fashion would like to see him fail, it’s Bonds. Because of this it’s really a tough thing having a debate/conversation about Bonds credentials. I give him his due. Best ever!

Palmeiro and Sosa HOF is debatable by some. I don’t think there is any debate about Big Mac or Barry. Actually for me none of the 4 are debatable.

[Joe D]

I agree with you Jack.

I blame MLB & Bud Selig on the whole Steriod isssue. If Jose Canseco never came out with his book, I think MLB would still be brushing the issue under the carpet.

[jonnyblaze]

All 4 are in without roid issues. Numbers, baby, numbers

[RanPicks]

Sosa!?! Are you kidding? Dudes a poser. First he gets caught with a corked bat (not telling how long he's been using them), and then his career goes in the sh*tter after he knows he can't take roids anymore for fear of getting caught. He's a quitter in my book. He should keep taking the roids that Barry and the rest of MLB (except Palmeiro) are taking (the ones that are still undetectable).

Not to mention, Sosa has had a Bonds-like growth spurt.

[dollarbills]

mcgwire..............1st ballot.............hof lock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CorkJuice]

bonds and palmero are no brainers because before all the steriod talk these guys were the elite of the mlb and would have been in anyway,

mcguire was a good hr hitter who brought nothing else to the game, turned into hof type hr hitter only when he started using the needle,

sosa also was not hall of fame calibur player or even an allstar until he started shooting and corking up, so i say mcguire and sosa should be denied, the other two IN

[Romanowski]

off topic, Was Clemens juicing too? throwin it out there

[CorkJuice]

Originally Posted by Rome

off topic, Was Clemens juicing too? throwin it out there

i hear there were a higher % of pitchers juicin than hitters, can't rule out any power pitcher really,