Darryl Strawberry, the eight-time All-Star, believes players who used performance-enhancing drugs should be inducted into the Hall of Fame, citing inconsistencies in Hall of Fame selections.
Darryl Strawberry, the eight-time All-Star and World Series champion, recently voiced his support for the induction of steroid-era baseball stars into the Hall of Fame. In an appearance on OutKick's "The Ricky Cobb Show," Strawberry argued that the inconsistencies in Hall of Fame selections warrant a re-examination of the issue.
Strawberry pointed out that many players enshrined in the Hall of Fame have engaged in questionable behavior, including the use of performance-enhancing drugs. He questioned the logic of inducting some players while excluding others for similar actions.
Darryl Strawberry: Steroid-Era Baseball Stars Deserve Hall of Fame Recognition
"I think if you look down the list of every player that's in the Hall of Fame, somebody's done something. Let's just be real, nobody's perfect. Everybody makes mistakes, everybody falls short," Strawberry said.
Strawberry specifically mentioned Barry Bonds, the seven-time National League MVP who has been denied Hall of Fame induction despite his impressive statistics. Bonds tested positive for steroids three times during his career, but Strawberry believes that his accomplishments on the field should outweigh his history of drug use.
Darryl Strawberry: Steroid-Era Baseball Stars Deserve Hall of Fame Recognition
"When you look at guys, any guy that played, it's hard enough to do that year after year and compete and put your body through what you got to put your body through. To see those guys not be honored for what they accomplished on the ball field, I think it's insane," Strawberry stated.
Strawberry also cited the case of David Ortiz, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022 despite reportedly testing positive for a banned substance in 2003. Strawberry emphasized the importance of consistency in decision-making when it comes to Hall of Fame inductions.
Darryl Strawberry: Steroid-Era Baseball Stars Deserve Hall of Fame Recognition
"You can't put some in and leave some out, you got some in there that people do know did the same thing, and then you're leaving other guys out, and you point at these guys and say these guys don't get in. Well, why did you let the other guys in? You let other guys in who did things. Why not let those guys be in, too, because they accomplished a lot of great things on the field?" Strawberry said.
Strawberry also expressed support for the Hall of Fame induction of Pete Rose, who was banned from MLB for gambling on the sport. Rose is MLB's all-time hit leader, and Strawberry believes that his contributions to the game should not be overshadowed by his past actions.
Darryl Strawberry: Steroid-Era Baseball Stars Deserve Hall of Fame Recognition
"Pete Rose taught me that by the way he played the game, and hopefully one day they will honor him and put him in the Hall of Fame because he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame for all that he did for the game of baseball and the way he played the right way," Strawberry said.
Strawberry's remarks reflect a growing sentiment among baseball fans and analysts that the Hall of Fame should reconsider its stance on steroid-era players. The Hall of Fame's mission is to preserve the history of baseball, and it remains to be seen whether excluding certain players based on past transgressions aligns with that mission.
Darryl Strawberry: Steroid-Era Baseball Stars Deserve Hall of Fame Recognition
