The first pitch for the Major League Baseball season is Sunday, April 5th. Steroid use in baseball had been an enormous issue for many years. It was on the list of banned substances in 1991. Baseball didn’t start testing for it until the 2003 season. There have been players who will never be enshrined into the Baseball Hall Of Fame due to allegations that they took steroids. These players include Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Barry Bonds. They never tested positive as far as we know. David Ortiz believes he is a Hall Of Fame player. He did play in the steroid era and is still playing in Major League Baseball. Is he a Hall Of Famer?
David Ortiz is one of the best designated hitters of all time. He is number one for hits by designated hitters in baseball history. Going into this year he has 2,159 hits. That number is going to increase this year.
The question with any players from the steroid era is did they ever take performance-enhancing drugs? Ortiz claims he has never taken a PED. This week he said, “I never knowingly took any steroids. If I tested positive for anything, it was for something in pills I bought at the damn mall. If you think that ruins everything I have done in this game, there is nothing I can say to convince you different.”
Baseball tests for PEDs. Players routinely get tested during the season. Ortiz has never failed a drug test. There are rumors that he tested positive in 2003 although those results haven’t been published.
Ortiz is a first ballot Hall Of Famer. His numbers speak for themselves. He has 2,159 hits and a batting average of .285 going into this season. Those are decent numbers that should have him voted into the Hall Of Fame when his playing days are over. The only knock on him is, did he take steroids? This lingering issue may prevent him from being voted into the Hall Of Fame.
Taking PEDs is cheating but until 2003 it wasn’t tested for and players weren’t suspended. There should be representation from this era in the Hall Of Fame. David Ortiz is a Hall Of Fame player. When his time comes, hopefully the baseball writers vote him in.
Is David Ortiz a Hall Of Fame player?
How can he be disqualified if he never tested positive for PEDs ?
Can’t hold an otherwise qualified player from the HOF just because of some rumors. If he’s vote in, there should be no second thoughts or misgivings.