Is Gary Sheffield more Hall of Fame worthy than Alex Rodriguez, despite the fact that both are inextricably linked to performing enhancing drugs?
Sheff is “crushing” A-Rod in balloting, leaving Jon Heyman to ponder how one cheat — with lesser numbers — is outpacing an all-time, albeit tainted, great. (Never mind the fact that Rodriguez is one of the least likable figures in the sport.)
But this is nothing new for baseball writers, who since the 1990s, have had to navigate which stars get a pass — and which pay the price — when it comes to Cooperstown induction.
Let’s take a look at who got in, and who was left languishing by the BBWAA.
Palmeiro tested positive in August 2005 after testifying before Congress in March 2005 that he had never used steroids.
Years on HoF ballot: 4 (2011-14)
Highest vote percentage: 12.6%
Elected: No
Fell off the ballot: 2014
Ramirez was suspended 50 games for taking human chorionic gonadotropin, which is commonly taken after steroids.
Years on HoF ballot: 8 (2017-present)
Highest vote percentage: 33.2% (2023)
Elected: TBD
Fell off the ballot: Still on it
While Piazza denied ever using steroids, he admitted to using the banned muscle-building compound androstenedione in his 2013 autobiography. The book was released the same year as his first appearance on the Hall of Fame ballot. There was speculation during Piazza’s Mets days.
Years on HoF ballot: 4 (2013-2016)
Highest vote percentage: 83% (2016)
Elected: Yes
Peralta was suspended 50 games for PEDs and later admitted to steroid use.
Years on HoF ballot: 1 (2023)
Highest vote percentage: 0.0% (2023)
Elected: No
Fell off the ballot: 2023
A-Rod admitted to using testosterone and HGH, leading to his suspension for the entirety of the 2014 MLB season.
Years on HoF ballot: 3 (2022-present)
Highest vote percentage: 35.7% (2023)
Elected: TBD
Fell off the ballot: Still on it
Tejada was named in the Mitchell report by Athletics outfielder Adam Piatt, who allegedly discussed steroid use with Tejada and provided him testosterone and HGH. Tejada was charged with lying to Congress under oath after pleading guilty.
Years on HoF ballot: 1 (2019)
Highest vote percentage: 1.2% (2019)
Elected: No
Fell off the ballot: 2019
Bonds was implicated in the BALCO scandal by trainer Greg Anderson.
Years on HoF ballot: 10 (2013-22)
Highest vote percentage: 66% (2022)
Elected: No
Fell off the ballot: 2022
Giambi was implicated in the BALCO scandal and testified to using ‘roids. He was found to have Deca-Durabolin via a blood test. He was the final active player named by the Mitchell Report, retiring in 2015.
Years on HoF ballot: 1 (2020)
Highest vote percentage: 1.5% (2020)
Elected: No
Fell off the ballot: 2020
Dykstra was implicated in a civil suit brought by a former business partner, where former bodybuilder Jeff Scott said he injected Dykstra himself. The former outfielder later admitted to using steroids.
Years on HoF ballot: 1 (2002)
Highest vote percentage: 0.2% (2002)
Elected: No
Fell off the ballot: 2002
Clemens was named in the Mitchell Report by strength-and-conditioning coach Brian McNamee, who testified he personally injected Clemens with steroids and HGH during a three-year period.
Years on HoF ballot: 10 (2013-22)
Highest vote percentage: 65.2% (2022)
Elected: No
Fell off the ballot: 2022
Canseco co-wrote the tell-all book Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant ‘Roids, Smash Hits & How Baseball Got Big in 2005. The book implicated the slugger along with multiple other teammates as steroid users, with Canseco claiming he personally injected some of them.
Years on HoF ballot: 1 (2007)
Highest vote percentage: 1.1% (2007)
Elected: No
Fell off the ballot: 2007
Lo Duca was named in the Mitchell Report for HGH usage. He was reportedly one of several clients of clubhouse attendant/steroid dealer Kirk Radomski, who produced three checks from Lo Duca totaling $3,200.
Years on HoF ballot: 1 (2014)
Highest vote percentage: 0.0%
Elected: No
Fell off the ballot: 2014
Roberts was named in the Mitchell Report and later admitted to using steroids.
Years on HoF ballot: 1 (2020)
Highest vote percentage: 0.0% (2020)
Elected: No
Fell off the ballot: 2020
Gagne was named in the Mitchell Report as a client of Kirk Radomski.
Years on HoF ballot: 1 (2014)
Highest vote percentage: 0.4% (2014)
Elected: No
Fell off the ballot: 2014
Pettitte was implicated in a federal raid against former relief pitcher Jason Grimsley in 2006 as well as the Mitchell Report one year later. Pettitte admitted to HGH use in front of Congress.
Years on HoF ballot: 5 (2019-present)
Highest vote percentage: 17% (2023)
Elected: TBD
Ankiel was named in the Mitchell Report as receiving eight shipments of HGH in 2004.
Years on HoF Ballot: 1 (2019)
Highest vote percentage: 0.0% (2019)
Elected: No
Fell off the ballot: 2019
Vaughn was named as one of the clients of Kirk Radomski in the Mitchell Report.
Years on HoF Ballot: 1 (2009)
Highest vote percentage: 1.1% (2009)
Elected: No
Fell off the ballot: 2009
In 2010, Big Mac admitted to using steroids in 1998 when he broke baseball’s home run record.
Years on HoF Ballot: 10 (2007-16)
Highest vote percentage: 23.7%
Elected: No
Fell off the ballot: 2016
Sosa denied taking any sort of growth hormones or steroids, but The New York Times reported in 2003 that he tested positive for using performance-enhancing drugs.
Years on HoF Ballot: 10 (2013-22)
Highest vote percentage: 18.5% (2022)
Elected: No
Fell off the ballot: 2022
Sheff was one of the players implicated in the BALCO scandal after a FedEx receipt was found in a federal search warrant of trainer Greg Anderson’s condo.
Years on HoF Ballot: 10 (2015-present)
Highest vote percentage: 55.0% (2023)
Elected: No
Fell off the ballot: N/A
