On their final year
Curt Schilling, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa
It is now or never for these four players. Either they are voted in by the BBWAA this season, or they come off the ballot, their hopes resting with the Veteran’s Committee.
Each of these players has flaws. Bonds and Clemens are considered the poster children of the PED Era, two of the greatest players that the game has ever seen, but their accomplishments have been called into question due to potential chemical enhancement. Sosa was essentially convicted in the court of public perception when he “forgot” how to speak English during a Congressional hearing in 2005.
Then there is Schilling. His politics, antagonistic attitude towards the media, constant homophobic, racist, and transphobic remarks, and defrauding of the State of Rhode Island for $75 million have kept him out of the Hall of Fame. After falling short last year, Schilling demanded to be taken off the ballot, saying that he did not want to be considered any longer, a request that was denied.
Maybe that will change this year. Maybe this time, these players will get those needed votes to surpass the 75% threshold, their punishment from the writers at an end. It is entirely possible, although Sosa is not going to gain that many votes.