The Juice Box: In Or Out?

Today we will learn the results of the 2013 Baseball Hall of Fame voting.  This ballot, likely the most controversial of all time, includes the poster children for the steroid era. 

Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Sammy Sosa all qualified for Hall of Fame eligibility for the first time this year, and since these are the names most closely associated with PEDs in baseball, they are now exposed to the mercy of the BBWAA.   While suspicion and evidence of these players' cheating is well documented, they are certainly not the only ones who dabbled in steroids.  In fact, none of the three ever produced a positive test, so they are only subject to hearsay and speculation.

Bonds in 1991 (left), then again in 2007 (right)

Who gets in? Who is left out? Will they vote based on speculation of cheating? Or will they only consider those who were officially caught? Was everybody on the juice? Or was it only small pockets of use? If the pitchers AND hitters were both cheating, did anybody truly have an unfair advantage? Or will they only use documented evidence?  Do they single out individuals? Or does the whole era deserve an asterisk?

Regardless of opinions, today will set the precedence for the entire era.  Will we see the three "faces of steroids" enshrined in Cooperstown?  Or will they be forever burdened by the cloud of suspicion surrounding them?

- Kevin Aherne

2013 HOF BALLOT