Every year when baseball writers vote for Hall of Fame players, we as fans are reminded of steroids. Baseball writers often publicize their debates over voting or not voting for players that used or are suspected to have used. Fans are further reminded about the Steroid Era when former players such as Mark McGwire go public. However, just when it seems that baseball has tarnished its Aaron-Maris reputation, one can't forget how "the roids" improved the sport.
In general, I agree with Goose Gossage. Those who illegally used should be banned from the Hall. Yet, it was each player's illegal use that transformed baseball back into being relevant. In 1994, the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) went on strike midway through the baseball season. This prevented the playoffs and World Series from ever being played. In fact, Major League Baseball wouldn't have a game again until 25 April 1995. The debate then was similar to what it is now. The owners (mostly from small and mid-market clubs) wanted revenue sharing (mainly over broadcasting profits) and a salary cap for players. When baseball resumed in 1995, many fans did not return to the game. That is, until Big Mac, Slammin' Sammy and Double B started to woo the baseball world.
The long ball has always had its place in baseball lore. Despite Babe Ruth batting .342 in his career, he is best known for his 714 homers. Therefore, it should be no surprise when Bonds, McGwire and Sosa combined for over 1260 home runs from 1995 to 2004 (keep in mind, McGwire stopped playing in 2001), fans migrated back to baseball. 1998 is seen as the year when fans forgot about the strike and refocused on the game. That was the year when McGwire and Sosa were competing against each other for Roger Maris' single season home run record. For the first time since the strike, fans were excited about baseball. The sluggers of the late 1990s and early 2000s forced increased television viewership of baseball, increased ticket sales at the ballparks, and increased profits for MLB. While McGwire, Sosa, and Bonds don't ever belong to be in the same sentence as Ruth, Aaron or Maris; their use/suspected use of steroids is what made professional baseball relevant once again. Unfortunately, this is a fact we as fans must live with.
-B.W. Mumford
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Chicks Dig The Long Ball
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ltD21rYWVw
It is not difficult to make the case that PEDs saved (or at least hastened the revitalization of) the business of baseball.
It is also not difficult to conclude that MLB and the MLBPA endorsed or at least purposely looked away from PED use by players such as McGwire, Sosa and Bonds because of the positive effect that those players were having on the business of baseball.
It is also foolish for the media and us as fans to place all blame on the players who "tarnished" the game. One only needs to look at early pictures of some of these home run hitters to realize that those physiques and power during the late 90s were not the product of Wheaties and Gatorade. We as the public ignored reality and should have been pushing for extensive testing long before the mid 00s.
My issue with your post is your contention that steroids "improved" baseball. While the long ball is certainly exciting (chicks dig them after all), it is a stretch to say it improves the game. I personally prefer a pitchers duel and become annoyed when I watch my preferred team's lead dismantled by a "bloop and a bomb".
The "end" of the steroid era has led many teams to revert back to a small ball game plan. My belief is that this has "improved" the game far more than Big Mac, Slammin' Sammy, and Double B ever did.
"This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains."