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A brief synopsis of the steroid problem:
The Steroids Dilemma in Major League Baseball and The Hall of Fame
As you may know steroids have been a problem in baseball for some time now. When steroid use became prevalent in Major League Baseball during the 1990’s many people turned the other way and didn’t do anything. After the strike that shortened the 1994 season Baseball executives were in desperate need for something big. No one was sure what it would be at the time, but a couple of events would help bring baseball back to popularity. First was Cal Ripken Jr’s record breaking Major League Baseball’s consecutive games played record of 2,130. This helped bring some fans back to the game and really made Cal Ripken a great model of perseverance and strength. That same year a Hearing was held regarding steroid use in baseball and how it effects the younger generation, but little was actually accomplished. The second great event of the 1990’s was the Home Run race of 1998 between Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa. These two awed people throughout the entire season with the record setting pace for Home Runs. When it came close to the end of the season I remember being glued to the TV watching for one of the two to get that record breaking 62nd Home Run. Mark McGuire was the first to reach the mark on September 8th and Sosa followed on September 13th. These two were the first to reach this point since Roger Maris hit 61 homeruns in 1961. With a good couple weeks left in the season everyone wondered who would actually win the race. When the season finally concluded McGuire set the record with 70 and Sosa came in second with 66. Baseball’s fan base was higher than it had been in years and everyone was blown away at the achievements of these players. I’m sure that some people knew about the steroid use in baseball at the time but many fans, including myself, didn’t really know or question anything. It wouldn’t be long after, though, that some people would begin taking the steroid problem seriously. With Bond’s incredible season in 2001 he broke numerous records including the three year old Home Run record, with an astonishing 73. After this many people began looking into the sudden upward shift in Home Runs across the league and another trend as well, the different body types of some players. Barry Bonds was and is the prime example. He went from being a scrawny player in the early 90’s to a jacked up and possibly “juiced” phenomenon. A report by Sports Illustrated in 2002 that discussed how bad the steroid problem had become eventually led to Major League Baseball agreeing on some type of steroid testing for the following year. It wasn’t very rigid or strict, but it was necessary and long overdue. The following couple of years led Major League Baseball to impose stricter guidelines, but is it enough? Are those that have been caught actually learning their lesson? One thing is for sure, Mark McGuire’s testimony before Congress in 2005 when he was intentionally evasive regarding steroids, had a direct effect on the Baseball Hall of Fame elections this past year. McGuire was on the ballot for the first time and received only 24% of the vote and his future chances of getting in are grim. With this survey I hope to find how baseball fans in general feel about steroids in baseball and what they wish to do regarding the Hall of Fame. Should players be allowed to enter the Hall of Fame if there are allegations or proof that they have taken steroids? What should happen to records that have been set during the steroid era? The choice is in the hands of Major League Baseball, but certainly it would help them make a decision if there was some good input from baseball fans. Hopefully we can get a good representative sample of just how fans feel about this problem.
Thank you for your time and opinion.
Adam Szarpa SUNY Oswego |