MLB Players implicated in PEDs deserving of Hall of Fame nod

Sammy Sosa

Teams: Rangers, White Sox, Cubs, Orioles

Slammin’ Sammy was one of the many faces of a homerun revolution in the late 90s. Sammy Sosa totaled 609 dingers in his career which is ninth most all-time.

He was 1998’s most valuable player and was on the ballot every year from 1995 to 2003. He drove in hundreds of runs during his peak. In two separate seasons he drove in 158 and 160. 160 is the most runs driven in during a season since the century began.

Sosa also appeared in seven all-star games and collected six silver sluggers, but the praise really slowed for Sosa in 2003. During a game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Sosa splintered his bat on a grounder up the middle and was caught in quite a career-smearing predicament.

In addition, Sosa was named as one of many who tested positive for PEDs during the 2003 season with names like Alex Rodriguez and Mark McGwire.

It’s difficult because Sosa was so respected as an individual and in the media. That smile was so infectious it could spread throughout the friendly confines of Wrigley Field.

But along with his home run race partner McGwire, it’s a career that is tarnished by cheating in more ways than one.

Sosa’s voting numbers don’t look fantastic either with 2021 being his ninth turn and him only amassing 13.9 percent last year. For perspective, he started at 12.9 percent in 2013.

It’s a big yikes but also a big shame. Oh say it ain’t Sosa.