Should Rose, Bonds and Clemens Be in the Hall of Fame? – New York Times

Introduction

Visitors at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

When the 2016 inductees to the National Baseball Hall of Fame are announced on Tuesday, three of the greatest players of all time will be left out. Pete Rose, who had more hits than any other player, has been banned from baseball since 1989 for betting on his team’s games when he managed the Cincinnati Reds. Accusations of steroid use against Barry Bonds, who hit more home runs in a career and a year than any other player, and Roger Clemens, who won seven Cy Young Awards, have so far kept them from getting the 75 percent support of baseball writers needed for selection.

Election is “based upon the player’s record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.” But are the accomplishments of these three players so great that they should be admitted despite questions about their character and integrity?

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