MLB: The Hypocrisy of the Forgiven PED Players
By David Hill
The All Star Game festivities from the past few days, and the love given to Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz, underscores the quiet hypocrisy throughout the MLB when it comes to PED users. Why are some forgiven, while others will carry that stigma for the foreseeable future?
Let us jump into the time machine and head back to that bygone era known as 1998. During that season, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire were waging war upon Roger Maris‘ single season home run record. That chase captivated the nation, and is credited with helping to save baseball following the disastrous player’s strike in 1994.
Just three years later, Barry Bonds was widely hailed for his 73 homers, breaking McGwire’s record. Sosa would hit 60 or more bombs in three seasons. Meanwhile, pitchers like Roger Clemens were putting together some of the best seasons ever seen on the mound, even though offensive production skyrocketed.
Then, we came to learn about the rampant usage of PEDs in baseball. Thanks to Jose Canseco‘s tell all book, the Mitchell Report, and drug testing, those same players that were celebrated just a couple of years ago fell under the cloud of suspicion. We saw players like Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez and Rafael Palmeiro have their reputations, and their chances of being enshrined in the Hall of Fame, destroyed. Other players, such as Jeff Bagwell, found themselves suspected of PED usage, despite never failing a drug test or ever being accused of such during their playing days.
Yet, there have been other players, who were either caught using PEDs or admitted to doing so, remained beloved by the fans and media alike. That same vitriol never reached them, underscoring the hypocrisy of the MLB in how these players were treated. Why are these players given a pass, and even lauded for their accomplishments, despite how dubious they may be?
Let us look at a few of those forgiven PED users, and see why this may be the case.
Next: The beloved Papi