Hank Aaron, Shut your Pie Hole

[fringe]

Aaron: Give PED-using HOF inductees asterisks on plaque

By Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y — Hank Aaron, major league baseball's former home run king, said Saturday he will accept players linked to performance-enhancing drugs into the Hall of Fame, but only if there's an asterisk on their plaque.

 

Yet, it still won't stop several Hall of Famers from boycotting the induction, Aaron says, with several Hall of Farmers telling Aaron they will either stay away from the ceremony or walk off the stage.

 

"Do you put these guys in," Aaron says, "and do you put names with an asterisk beside the name, 'Hey, they did it, but here's why.' To be safe, that's the only way I can see how you can do it.

 

"I don't see how, and I've played the game long enough to know that it is impossible for players to hit 70-something home runs. It just don't happen. It just do not happen, I think that's one reason why people's eyes started opening up and said, how can this guy do this?

 

"Somewhere on the plaque beside his name, 'Hey, 73 home runs, he was accused.' That's the only way you can do it."

 

If players linked to performance-enhancing drugs are inducted into the Hall of Fame, several Hall members have discussed a boycott, Aaron says.

 

"I don't need to tell you who," Aaron says. "But I think some players would do that. The people I've talked to certainly have some resentment toward it. Yet, Aaron says, he will accept them, just as he believes that Pete Rose deserves to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

 

"I have to [accept them]," Aaron, 75, says. "I'm only one person. But if somebody votes somebody into the Hall of Fame, if possible, I would be there to welcome them."

 

There are plenty of others, like Goose Gossage, who say they would boycott the induction ceremony.

 

"I think if you cheated, you shouldn't be allowed in," says Gossage, inducted last year into Cooperstown. "I just think it's a bad things. The numbers just don't mean the same.

 

"If I was a writer, I wouldn't even consider [voting for a steroid user]. It's a no-brainer."

 

Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson says that "it hurts," to see players linked to steroids pass Mickey Mantle and others on the all-time home run list, but he will follow Aaron's lead.

 

"Duly noted," Jackson says. "I agree with that. …It's a never-ending conversation," Jackson says, "but it's nice when guys like Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and [bob] Gibson speak."

 

Aaron broke Babe Ruth's home run in 1974 and was baseball's home-run king with 755 homers until he was passed in 2007 by Barry Bonds, who has indicted by the federal government for allegedly lying about steroid use.

 

"It's hard to say the reason you hit a home run because you're on steroids," Aaron says., "I don't believe that. I believe your body can recuperate quickly to come back on the field. But I certainly don't think you can stand up there and hit a Nolan Ryan 100 mph fastball just because you put something in your arm or took a pill."

 

What makes it impossible to hit 70 home runs? Why is it possible to hit 60 and not 70?

Hank never hit more than 50 I think. Because you've played a long time, that makes you an expert? Swimmers and track stars set records thought impossible at the time, now 10 year old girls beat them.

How do we know that people who are already in the Hall didn't use? And we already know they were hitting against juiced up pitchers so doesn't that even the playing field?

Lastly, should we look more closely at your '73 Braves, Hank?

[Virginia Giant]

I almost posted this yesterday but didn't want to get worked up. Hank has become such a scumbag, I hope Arod, Pujols, Howard and a dozen more all hit 760 in the next dozen years. Ask Tom House about baseball in the late 60's/70's.

[fringe]

I almost posted this yesterday but didn't want to get worked up. Hank has become such a scumbag, I hope Arod, Pujols, Howard and a dozen more all hit 760 in the next dozen years. Ask Tom House about baseball in the late 60's/70's.

if he felt this way, he never should have congratulated barry around when he broke his record. instead he waits 3 years to open his mouth.... what a 2 faced little bitch.

[Virginia Giant]

if he felt this way, he never should have congratulated barry around when he broke his record. instead he waits 3 years to open his mouth.... what a 2 faced little bitch.

See, I was pissed he only sent a video when Barry broke his record. Anyone who is alive attends the game when their record is broken, but Hank sends a video. It makes me mad because i am 90% certain he used roids for at least a couple years. He was a great power hitter, without question, but he fuels the fire when he knows players during his era used them instead of being a man and saying..."baseball players no matter the year or era did anything they could to get any advantage they could".

[fringe]

See, I was pissed he only sent a video when Barry broke his record. Anyone who is alive attends the game when their record is broken, but Hank sends a video. It makes me mad because i am 90% certain he used roids for at least a couple years. He was a great power hitter, without question, but he fuels the fire when he knows players during his era used them instead of being a man and saying..."baseball players no matter the year or era did anything they could to get any advantage they could".

and Bud "i make 18 million per but i buy my suits at burlington coat factory" Selig kisses his ass because he was his milwaukee butt buddy.

[MakeMeSomeFoodHo]

I wonder how Hank Aaron feels about Willie Mays. I mean, if Willie didnt go to the army and everything, he would have hit 800+ home runs with ease.

 

 

[fringe]

I wonder how Hank Aaron feels about Willie Mays. I mean, if Willie didnt go to the army and everything, he would have hit 800+ home runs with ease.

not to mention hitting in polo grounds and candlestick as opposed to fulton county launch pad.

[MakeMeSomeFoodHo]

not to mention hitting in polo grounds and candlestick as opposed to fulton county launch pad.

exactly...willie probably hit at least 150 home runs that the candlestick wind brought back.

 

Willie Mays was the greates baseball player of all time...better than Gehrig and Ruth.

[fringe]

exactly...willie probably hit at least 150 home runs that the candlestick wind brought back.

 

Willie Mays was the greates baseball player of all time...better than Gehrig and Ruth.

the man kept him down.

[Virginia Giant]

From Rangers reporter TR Sullivan's blog...

 

 

 

 

In the matter of Pete Rose, which continues to dog baseball...

 

Mark McGwire gets my vote for the Hall of Fame and will continue to do so as long as he is on the ballot. So too will Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and any other players deemed worthy because of their baseball accomplishments. Yes, sigh, Rafael Palmeiro

 

Rose too if I had that chance.

 

Steroids? Gambling? Thanks for bringing that up.

 

I respectfully decline the high and exalted honor of judging somebody's off-field behavior. That's Commissioner Selig's job. Or that of a real judge, whether local, state, federal or appeals. They are better at it. I prefer sticking to baseball.

 

Some points...

 

* Bart Giamatti was the one who suspended Rose. He was the judge in that case. He handed down the punishment. Giamatti said he would not keep Rose out of the Hall of Fame. Made a point of saying that it was not part of the punishment. Said that was still up to the writers.

 

It was others - namely the Hall of Fame Board of Directors - who are keeping Rose out. They came up with the rule after Rose was suspended.

 

My question...if a person is punished by legal authority, do others have a right to tack on their own punishment to that which is handed down by legal authority? That seems unconstitutional to me. Or just downright wrong.

 

* Secondly...enough about the Hall of Fame being about character. It's not that there are some unsavory characters in there already. There are.

 

The point is strong character is never considered on players behalf as opposed to being held against him.

 

If good character were a factor, Tommy John and Buck O'Neill would be in the Hall of Fame. So would Dale Murphy, Andre Dawson, Jim Kaat and Don Mattingly. They all have borderline Hall of Fame credentials. They are all off-the-charts as far as personal character and integrity.

 

That's not getting them into the Hall of Fame anymore than it will get Rick Helling into the Rangers Hall of Fame.

 

* If it's up to the Hall of Famers, Rose isn't getting into the Hall of Fame. It's hard to believe that bunch will give 75 percent to anybody.

 

They didn't to Ron Santo. That's a bigger travesty than Pete Rose.

 

* We're not talking about Heaven, Valhalla, Nirvana or whatever Eden you believe in. We're talking about a museum in upstate New York. And we all know Rose would be there if he hadn't committed a capital offense against baseball.

 

He did and Giamatti punished him. He was the one to do so.

[Ditto]

<!--quoteo(post=487331:date=Jul 29 2009, 09:52 AM:name=Hugh Gereckshun)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Hugh Gereckshun @ Jul 29 2009, 09:52 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=487331"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->exactly...willie probably hit at least 150 home runs that the candlestick wind brought back.

 

Willie Mays was the greates baseball player of all time...better than Gehrig and Ruth.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

the man kept him down.

How so? He was greatly admired here in the east, but out on the coast, you picked your own star, McCovey.

[fringe]

How so? He was greatly admired here in the east, but out on the coast, you picked your own star, McCovey.

it was a joke, ditto relax. McCovey is not more loved than Mays. McCovey got a cove, Mays got the address.