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Sports

Cheaters do not belong in hall of fame

Holding Court

Richard Whitrock

Who owns the single-season home run record in major league baseball?

Unfortunately, the question isn't nearly as simple as it seems. When Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa made their celebrated (and successful) run for best Roger Maris' record of 61, there seemed to be little question. Then, when Barry Bonds smashed both their records before the ink was even dry, it again seemed as if baseball fans could answer the question with the kind of smug know-it-all, I-can't-believe-this-schmuck-is-asking-me-so-simple-a-question attitude all sports fans reserve for the sports ignorant.

Now, however, we're not so sure. First there was Sosa and his corked bat. Then there are the steroids accusations leveled against Bonds that only the naive don't at least give serious thought to, and recently Jose Canseco's accusations that McGuire had a less-than-reputable relationship with the needle.

So who holds the record?

If Sosa used a corked bat even once when he made his own records, they should be thrown out. If either Bonds or McGuire partook of the juiced apple during their record seasons -- and, arguably, if they did before then -- their records should be voided and thrown into the asterisk netherworld that all records achieved while cheating are condemned to.

It looks like the question isn't that simple. For all we know, Roger Maris may still be waiting to legitimately hand the title over.

More important than that single-season home run record, however, are these players' futures in Cooperstown. While McGuire, Sosa and Bonds are almost guaranteed a spot in the Hall, even if their record seasons are stricken from the books, the question of whether they should be allowed to enter needs to be addressed.

When Pete Rose was banned from baseball because he broke the golden rule and bet on the game, he caused a storm of controversy. Should he be banned? Should a single or even a few acts of transgression undo the hard-won and wondrous accomplishments of a spectacular career?

Baseball still says yes because the integrity of the game is so important. To let someone into the Hall of Fame who committed such grievous sins against baseball is an insult to the rest of the players in the Hall, the fans and the game itself.

A league that bans Pete Rose from entering the Hall of Fame cannot allow McGuire, Sosa or Bonds to become members of the Hall if it's proven that any of the three, at any time, cheated at baseball. The hypocrisy of one that does may turn out to be more than any fan can handle.

We may not know who holds the single-season home run record, but the answer to that question must be found before someone makes it into the Hall of Fame riding on the hidden wings of deceit and shame.
 

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