The usage of performance enhanced substances has been a problem that has been seen throughout the MLB. Over the past decade the debate on whether or not steroid users should be allowed induction into the hall of fame is something that never seems to go away.

 Some would say that steroid users still were required to be very skillful and great at playing the game of baseball and performance enhanced substances were only a minor aid in those players’ success. Players like Barry Bonds and Jose Conseco were amazing at the game and put up some incredible numbers that steroids can’t take all of the credit for. At the end of the day a player is still required to hit the ball with the bat and throw the baseball at the target.

With the continuous cases of steroid usage in the MLB, it doesn’t seem like players plan to stop trying to use them any time soon. With that being said the question lies in how credible and reputable a players career should be viewed after being caught using illegal substances and if players caught should still be given the same opportunities as everyone else.  

Although one is still required to have the fundamentals to play the sport, performance enhanced substances still have an effect on outcomes within a player’s game and thus is considered cheating no matter how one may choose to look at it.

With a topic like this, I was able to interview a couple Morningside University Baseball players to hear their point of view and opinions on the matter. 

Pitcher Luke Marr stated “ Steroid users should either be all considered, or none at all”. Marr challenged the idea of consistency within the MLB system with situations that have taken place in the past. 

An example of this can be seen with Red Sox Hall of Famer David Ortiz. Early in Ortiz’s career, he was caught using steroids and received a minor suspension as a rookie. Years later his career took off in Boston where he became a All-Star and three-time World Series Champion while being clean of any steroid suspicion. In 2020 David Ortiz was inducted into the Hall of Fame with exceptional numbers but had left a sour taste in people’s mouth. Why was he allowed to be inducted when a player like Barry Bonds, who had a far greater resume, will never get that opportunity. The difference is the timing of when the player was caught and the impact it seemed to have had in their careers but the rules lack consistency. 

Marr also mentioned that every user should have a fair assessment of their usage and that there needs to be more consistency in their ruling. “Gate Keeping the HOF from steroid users that were so good their numbers looked like video game numbers, should not be a factor”, Marr stated.

 With known users to be in the Hall of Fame already, why should the best of users not be considered when they used the same substances as someone like David Ortiz? This was Marr’s biggest argument as he emphasized the lack of consistency and treatment for every player across the board.

Along with Luke Marr, I was also given the opportunity to interview catcher Jayson Willers. When asked his thoughts on whether players caught using steroids should be inducted into the Hall of Fame, his answer was pretty clear. “If you were caught taking steroids at any given point in your career, you should not be in the Hall of Fame no matter who you are”, stated Willers. Willers was then challenged with a question regarding the lack of rule awareness and clarity for players and whether or not that idea should be taken into consideration. In response, Willers stated that “Players who have taken steroids knew that it was illegal no matter how unclear the rules are, yet they still took them” implying that there should be no consideration taken for any player caught using PEDs. 

The rules of the MLB are very strict and enforced and when a player is aware of the possible consequences, they should be ruled as accountable for their actions.