Step Up To The Plate

Baseball has a way of bridging the gap between generations. At a time when my Dad and I agreed on little, we could have a conversation about baseball. Later in life, it helped to break down barriers with a young stepson. There is continuity in that the game has not changed radically since the 1890’s.

Numbers are important in baseball, more so than other sports. The statistics allow comparisons between players of different generations. Through the history, there have been conditions that affect the statistics such as, the dead-ball era of the early 1900’s, the age of pitcher dominance in the late ‘50s and ‘60s, and big parks and Astroturf in the ‘70s. When fans discuss players of different eras these things are taken into consideration.

Last week the ballots for the Baseball Hall of Fame were issued to the voting sportswriters. Mark McGwire is on the ballot for the first time. And, now officially, the baseball world is confronted with how to define the steroid era. If you could just go by the numbers McGwire is in, no question. But, do his numbers hold up? It is hard to say. One thing that many people fail to recognize is that pitchers were taking steroids also. To this date, more pitchers have been caught than position players. There are ugly rumors involving great pitchers including Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens. Does that level the playing field? Are there other factors that are responsible for the big home run totals like a lack of pitching, a juiced ball, and small parks? There is no clear answer but it seems clear that steroids have affected the game.

There is an old adage in baseball, “It’s not cheating if you don’t get caught”. Gaylord Perry and Phil Neikro are considered wily for getting away with doctoring the baseball for so long. When a player is caught with a corked bat, it is soon laughed off. Steroids are a different matter, altering ones physical self is not perceived as “crafty”.

Mark McGwire has never tested positive for steroids and has never admitted to using them. During all of the years that Pete Rose denied his gambling on the game, there was evidence that he had sitting in the commissioner’s office. There is no evidence against McGwire.

I watched McGwire’s clumsy appearance before congress in which he took the fifth and I have a personal beef with him. Based on that non-testimony, I believe he did do steroids.

When McGwire hit his 61st homer in 1998 my then eight-year-old stepson, wife and I jumped up, engaged in a sloppy group hug and danced around the living room. It was a wonderful, fun, goofy moment that brought us closer together. I feel like we collectively got suckered.

The consensus seems to be that the baseball writers will scold McGwire by not voting him in on the first ballot, and then allow him into the hall later. This is a load of crap. It is not their job to scold. Lacking evidence, they need to decide if the numbers hold up, that is their job.

Like I said, I have no proof that McGwire took steroids. I just feel that he did. In my mind, he has one last chance to do the right thing. He could, this week, admit to the use of steroids. If he did, we could look at the steroid era and perhaps start to put it in proper perspective. If he did, it would mean, that to Mr. McGwire, truth and integrity are more important than superficiality. If he did, it would be a great show of respect to the Hall of Fame.

Earlier this year I took a prescribed cycle of steroids. I asked the doctor what he thought about the use of steroids in sports. He was of the opinion that we may look back on this and find it all funny, that we may all be taking HGH someday. Science and public opinion are flexible however, the truth is not.

There is the possibility that McGwire did not take steroids. If that is the truth then why not go on record while the integrity of the hall is in the public eye. However, if he did take the steroids it would be a good time for Mr. McGwire to be a man.

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Tags: Baseball, Baseball Hall of Fame, Mark McGwire, steroids