Breaking down the 2022 Hall of Fame ballot
By David Hill
The PED users
Gary Sheffield, Manny Ramirez, Andy Pettitte, David Ortiz, Alex Rodriguez
It is amazing how PED usage, or the suspected usage thereof, can impact a player’s chances at the Hall of Fame.
It is unlikely that either Sheffield, Ramirez, or Rodriguez are voted into the Hall. While Sheffield never failed a PED test, both Ramirez and Rodriguez did – twice. However, all three will fall under the same stigma, leaving their candidacies with little traction.
Then there are Pettitte and Ortiz. Both failed PED tests according to the Mitchell Report, but that stigma does not appear to have carried over. Pettitte issued an apology and admitted to using those substances to get back on the diamond. Ortiz claimed that he did not use them and that he would find out exactly why he failed that test. We are still waiting for that explanation.
While Pettitte may not be a Hall of Fame caliber player, Ortiz has a lot of momentum. His PED usage, which disqualified other candidates from being inducted on the first ballot, is somehow not a problem. His personality helps, as he is the beloved Big Papi, but the general hypocrisy of such voters is astounding.
What of the other PED users on the ballot? They are in the next section.