Bonds, Clemens still won’t get my vote

When I started in this business, nearly 50 years ago, I was considered a “chipmunk.” That was a term some of the older writers disdainfully hung on the younger fellows (there were no women writers back then) entering the field of baseball journalism. In their day a baseball writer’s job consisted of writing a description of the game, handing their copy to a Western Union operator and going home. They looked askance at those of us who thought it was important to look behind the scenes and give the reader a bigger picture.

I made up my mind then that if I was lucky enough to become a senior baseball writer that, no matter what, I wouldn’t disparage younger talent the way these older guys disparaged us.

Well, I’m there folks. I’ve lasted long enough to become one of the older guys and I admit it. I see the current generation of baseball writers working with technology that was unknown when us chipmunks took over the field and I think they do it very well. I think they’re at least as capable as my generation was. But ... I’m having a lot trouble wrapping my brain around one fact — actually two facts. Last year 239 Hall of Fame voters (slightly more than half) sup-

ported Roger Clemens for induction. Barry Bonds drew 238 votes. I expect both of them to get even more votes this year and possibly even approach the 75 percent required for induction.

There is no dispute that both were great ballplayers. In fact, Bonds might have been the best left fielder who ever played the game. Clemens was certainly a stellar pitcher. However, both of them are widely believed to have enhanced their considerable natural talents with the use of steroids.

More than half of my younger colleagues apparently feel that doesn’t disqualify them for induction into the baseball shrine.

I always try to respect the opinions of people with whom I happen to disagree, but this issue tests my tolerance. How can anyone who loves the game of baseball conclude that steroid use by a player is acceptable or forgivable?

I can’t tell you how much advantage steroids provided players but I’m sure it was substantial. I had first-hand experience with them a few weeks ago (under a doctor’s supervision) and was amazed at how much stronger I became in just 48 hours. It’s staggering to think of how much advantage a ballplayer might have obtained if he used them regularly for months and years.

I won’t vote for them and I have a hard time understanding why anyone else would. Instead, I’ll choose some other greats who, as far as I know, played the game the right way.

In fact, I’m going to start with a player who I believe has become a victim of the steroid era. Fred McGriff led both leagues in home runs during his career, but never hit more than 37 in a single season. His numbers often were dwarfed by players later identified with drugs. However, when he finished his career he had blasted 493 round trippers, which is exactly the number hit by Lou Gehrig.

Trevor Hoffman stands second on the all-time saves list with 601. That’s 123 more saves than any other pitcher not named Mariano Rivera. Hoffman fell five votes short of induction last year and I expect him to make it this time.

Vladimir Guerrero is another player who came very close to election last year. Anyone who can drive in 1,496 runs while posting a career batting average of .310 is a special player.

Edgar Martinez won two batting titles and drove in 100-plus runs six times in his career. I left him off my ballot last year because no voter can vote for more than 10 players and I thought there were more than 10 worthy candidates. That’s not the case this year so I’m putting him back on my ballot.

Curt Schilling rubs a lot of people (including me) the wrong way with his tweets, but they have nothing to do with his baseball career. He was an ace pitcher on four World Series teams in three cities and could always be counted on in big games.

Nineteen players are eligible for the first time and I think four of them deserve to be included.

Jim Thome blasted 612 homers in his career and was frequently cited by his peers as the best teammate they ever had. Chipper Jones hit 468 homers, which is the third highest total ever for a switch hitter. Omar Vizquel played 24 years and compiled a .985 fielding percentage as a shortstop. He won 11 Gold Gloves in an era which abounded with great shortstops. Andruw Jones won 10 Gold Gloves as a center fielder and drove in 100 or more runs five times in his career.

Some voters, I’m sure, will withhold votes from these players on the belief that only the greatest of the greats should reach the Hall on their first year of eligibility. I don’t agree with that position either, but at least in this case I can understand the arguments put forward by the people on the other side.