For many MLB seasons, many star players have been introduced into the Hall of Fame. However, the of so famous steroid era has blacklisted many players who may or may not deserve to be forever remembered in Cooperstown. There remains one player, however, that has been snubbed: Barry Bonds.
Barry Bonds Belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame
Cheating Is NEVER Acceptable
Don’t think that steroids were fine or cheating is okay. Many players were probably not going to be as good as they were if it weren’t for such drugs taking over the sport for a while. The MLB deserves respect for not bringing many players into the Hall of Fame. In fact, many might say that the steroid scandal killed baseball for a while, thanks to people not liking cheaters. In 2017 and 18, we saw the MLB world become enraged by the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal and the lesser-known Boston Red Sox sign-stealing scandal as well.
Overall, many think that the Astros don’t deserve the title, and the scandal has also ruined Jose Altuve’s legacy in a way. All in all, people don’t like cheaters; they like competitors, which is the definition of why people watch sports like baseball.
Yet, Barry Bonds Absolutely Belongs in Cooperstown
To be honest, I have more respect for players like Aaron Judge and Hank Aaron than Barry Bonds. However, Bonds’ numbers were absolutely insane, even before steroids became an issue. Bonds consistently hit around 25-33 homers with the Pittsburgh Pirates before joining the San Francisco Giants. With Pittsburgh, Bonds didn’t seem to be taking any steroids, yet Bonds still has been batting consistently around .290 or even above .300. Bonds was more than just a power hitter, Bonds was also a great hitter when it came to batting for average.
With the Giants, Bonds then exploded into a consistent 40-45 home run hitter. Eventually, Bonds would go on to hit 73 home runs in one season with an average of .328. It was at this time that it was clear that Bonds was being affected by steroids, as such powerful drugs have effects on the body. However, there is no denying that Bonds was a great hitter with or without steroids. Would 73 home runs turn into 30 if he didn’t cheat? Likely not, Bonds still would have hit a massive amount of homers.
Perhaps Bond Wouldn’t Have Been So Good, But…
Bonds probably wouldn’t have hit 73 homers in one season if it weren’t for steroids. In fact, many might say that Aaron Judge deserves the title for the most homers ever since he didn’t cheat like Mark McGuire, Sammy Sosa, and Bonds did. However, how large of an effect do steroids have on the body? Bonds would likely have hit well over 600 homers in his career even if he didn’t cheat.
Bonds’ career numbers are the following: 762 HRs, .298 average, 2558 BB’s (only 1539 Strikeouts), 514 stolen bases, a .444 OBP, a 1.051 OPS, and a .607 slugging percentage. These are unbelievable numbers that are probably helped a lot by steroids. But without steroids, Bonds was still an amazing player. His average alone is something to behold, while the amount of walks is insane as well. A .444 OBP is also very admirable. Not to mention, 514 stolen bases is an achievement as well. All in all, again, these numbers are only helped by his cheating. However, Cooperstown should still allow him into the Hall of Fame.
Overall, one cannot condone what Bonds did. Cheating is never the way to go, especially in professional sports. However, Bonds was still too good of a hitter with or without steroids. It is time for Cooperstown to finally allow one of the greatest hitters of all time to join the Hall of Fame.
Main Image: Jack Gruber / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
