MLB Players implicated in PEDs deserving of Hall of Fame nod

Though we won’t be celebrating in Cooperstown this summer, what MLB players should the voters be thinking about inducting despite certain PED ties?

I was watching a replay of the 1997 World Series game seven the other day and was feeling some sort of nostalgia for the MLB players I recognized.

I was thinking about all the history with the Marlins and how they were the original team to go from expansion to world champs the quickest. I was watching future Hall of Famer Jim Thome out of the seven-spot in a stacked Indians lineup with David Justice and Matt Williams.

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And then I was thinking a lot about Gary Sheffield. What a career he has had. Nine-time all-star, five-time silver slugger, the 1992 batting title, six top-ten MVP finishes, and 509 homeruns.

But one distinction is missing from Sheffield’s career, and it is a rather deserving one; Hall of Famer.

The reason as to why he is not in is obvious – as is for many players from that era of baseball – and that’s his connections to steroid usage.

Steroid usage is most certainly a blemish to what was a strong career, but Sheffield is not alone in that regard.

There are several players worthy of the hall of fame nod, even though they are guilty of PED usage. These five MLB players changed the game of baseball for better and for worse but their play on the field should consider them as immortals.

Two of them are obvious choices and still on the ballot. The others? You likely have some guesses and I’m here to support those assumptions.