A quick note to note that today’s blog post is a slight deviation from my talk about success and mental strength. In a way it is all about how we view success though.

Baseball Hall of Fame Name Game

It’s time, but for what? That’s the million-dollar question. I suppose it’s time for the truth or as close to it as we can decipher. Will it hurt? Absolutely, but the debate will never end unless something is done.

Trying to make sense of it all is difficult. Before I get too far along – this type of article brings out opposite viewpoints, if not the haters. Let me remind everyone of what the legendary coach John Wooden (the first of many name-drops) said; I paraphrase, “If we were all the same, think how boring life would be.” Not being on the same page is OK, as he emphasized in this way, “We can agree to disagree, but we don’t need to be disagreeable.” Good point for our times - we all can practice disagreeing in a civil, compassionate manner.

Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown

Willie Nelson (name drop two) sang, “Forgiving you was easy; forgetting seems to take the longest time.” I forgive them; they were caught up in a movement that the MLB allowed but forgetting will never happen.

Another year of candidates for the Hall, more debate, and many of the all-time greats didn’t get enough votes to get in baseball’s Hall of Fame or even to stay in play from here on. Why am I somewhat pleased with that, and is it right? As for the second question, “Who knows” is the crux of the never-ending debate. As for the first question, I will offer my side of why I’m not disappointed with so few players inducted when their numbers say they should be shoo-ins. At least that is my viewpoint for today, I say half-jokingly.

The Waiver Wire

Like many, it’s not an easy call, and I am so conflicted. One day I wake and say, “Put them all in.” They may have compromised their integrity, the game, and the record books, but they were the best of their generation, including many other players who took advantage, which is a lighter touch than calling them the C-word that ends with heaters.

However, the very next day, I wake and say, “Heck no, they do not deserve to have their careers memorialized when it’s obvious some of their years were fake.”

To add to my fickle mind, last week, I read an excellent article by ESPN’s Jeff Passan about why the steroid guys should be in the hall of fame. After reading, my view was, “Yea, that sounds good; I agree, the hall is for the best.” He reasons the best should be in because they are the game’s history, and the Hall of Fame should tell the story of baseball. I suppose he’s right.

I guess I can live with an enshrined player’s plaque saying, “So and So was an incredible player, but it must be known that he allegedly didn’t always play within the spirit of sportsmanship during a time when steroids were prevalent, so take some of what he did with a grain of salt.” There you go – the best would be in, and the history of baseball told.

However, this week I read another excellent article by another person I highly regard, as Jeff Passan, former major leaguer Doug Glanville.  Doug believes the steroid guys should never be inducted into the hall but is also on board with having their story told. He states it could be in a separate way without enshrinement. After reading, I flipped again and said, “Yep, I agree.” Tell their story but without naming them Hall of Famers. Perhaps they would get their narratives in “The Hall of Fame/Shame Wing” or “The Would Have Been/But No, Branch.”

Joking aside, if I must choose between takes, I will go with Doug Glanville’s. What an athlete wants and expects is an even playing field. As a former major leaguer like Doug, it rips me apart to think of guys being able to have that big of an edge. People seem to forget that steroids made one stronger and helped their recovery, making the daily grind much more effortless. That’s huge. I was a hard worker, even though often a dumb one, but I quickly wore down from work, resulting in more struggle due to weariness. Quicker recovery may have been a difference-maker for me and the extension of my career, as the substances did for many.

Furthermore, I recall one of the substances aided in improved focus skills. That’s another enormous advantage any player would love to have. Glanville also writes that choices must have consequences. Yes! That is the way life works. Make bad choices - it costs. Perhaps a solution could be a penalty period. For example, those who used steroids would have to wait twenty years before consideration. Other serious crimes against the game would have a determined penalty period, too, and so on. They get their opportunity once their penalty time is served, just like our penal system works. So, as mentioned, I can forgive but not forget and with consequences. I realize the debate over the guilty and the alleged can never be solved, so that plan will not work either. Oh well, I tried.

The MLB Hall of Fame Stories

Perhaps there is some movement on the issue as it appears that both respected men agree the story of baseball must be told. That seems the right way to go. However, to tell the story of baseball, there can be no wavering. If we are talking of the best, the stories told will be of Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGuire, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmiero, Curt Schilling, Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, and Pete Rose, to name only a few. Of course, that will not eliminate all issues. Where do you draw the line between doing a little wrong or total unacceptable behavior? Whether they are in or not, the truth will be uncomfortable, especially for parents explaining things to their children.

Here is the story of Player A, whose plaque reads, “John Doe was the best of his generation, set record after record, and is no doubt one of the best to play the game. It just so happens he had a questionable edge and became much better after an age when most are long out of the game.”. Story told. Have fun explaining that to your kids. “Know this, son; you may have heard the saying cheaters never win, don’t believe that for a second. You do what it takes to win. Period. See, he’s in the greatest shrine to the game.”  

Then there is player B – Bill Doe plaque reads, “Another indisputable well-deserving superstar. Despite being an outspoken racist who spewed false beliefs, Bill could sure deal on the ball diamond.” Daddy, what does racist and spewed mean? 

Then there is the Unmentionable Doe, who turned out to be a sexual deviant, murderer, and on and on. Uh oh - there are no good answers sometimes.

You see where this is heading. If it’s so important to tell baseball’s story, we must accept what that entails. Of course, we may see fewer parents taking kids to the hall or avoiding half of it because of having to tell them what some of their heroes were really like.

My Final Call on the Cooperstown Decision

So, you think I have flipped again, and I am against telling the story of baseball in the Hall of Fame. Nope, I believe it’s time, whether as hall members or in a separate section. Yes, the truth will hurt and be uncomfortable, but not telling it hurts more at the end of the day. Denying the facts is why we have the same issues as many years ago. I think of Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson in a Few Good Men to continue my name game -  “I want the truth?” You can’t handle the truth!” There is only one way to find out if we can handle it.

I don’t like to go into my opinion outside the sports realm, but I believe the same argument can be made with the teaching of critical race theory in our history books. It’s time and let baseball’s Hall of Fame and U.S. History have their day in the truth. As the saying goes, it will set us free, or at least freer.