Baseball Hall of Fame: Joe Morgan takes a stand

Sacred ground

He calls it “the most sacred place in Baseball” that should not be tainted. He closes with a P.S. about how special the Cooperstown experience is for families and how that should be preserved.

"Families come to Cooperstown because they know it’s special. To parents, it’s a place they can take their kids for an uplifting, feel-good visit. It’s a place where kids can see what true greatness is all about. It’s a place where youngsters can dream that one day they too might get in. This place is special. I hope it stays that way.”"

Man, where to start. I admit there are very strong emotions on both sides of this issue. I respect those who agree with Joe Morgan. We’re all baseball fans, and we all love the game. We don’t have to agree on this issue. That being said, c’mon, Joe.

It should be pointed out that Joe specifically uses the word “steroids” throughout his letter. He does refer one time to “body-altering chemicals,” but never uses “PEDs” (performance enhancing drugs).

I think this is intentional because PEDs would naturally group amphetamines with steroids and Joe doesn’t want to talk about amphetamines, which were ubiquitous during the time he played.

Amphetamines were often called “greenies,” and their use was widespread for many decades in baseball. They were mainly rampant during Morgan’s playing days. Players have written about two coffee pots in the clubhouse, one with regular coffee and one with an amphetamine additive.

They’ve mentioned clubhouses with jars full of “greenies” and players popping them in their mouths like jellybeans. Many of those amphetamine users are in the Hall, but Joe doesn’t want to talk about amphetamine use.

He also writes about the MLB Hall of Fame as if it is pure and untainted now. In reality, the Hall of Fame already has plenty of shady characters, including Cap Anson, a virulent racist, and Tom Yawkey, the longtime owner of the Red Sox who kept the team white as snow for longer than any other MLB team.