Put Big Mac in the Hall

I'm a little late on this but hey, that's nothing new. I just read this Bill Simmons' article about putting Mark McGwire in the Hall of Fame and i couldn't help but agree with it (never mind that my garage is filled with recently worthless signed McGwire memorabilia...).

I think it's pretty appalling that he won't get in and i liked Simmons' point about the same sports writers that wrote books about his amazing home run streak and made a boatload of money on it are now the same people who aren't voting for him.

What McGwire and Sosa did that year saved baseball and created a lot of lifelong fans. I can attest to the fact that i actively disliked baseball until the home run chase of 98 and now there isn't a night between March and November that i won't be checking my fantasy league or watching the games. This year i plan on following it closer than ever. I still remember when McGwire's 62nd home run went over the fence. I'll probably never forget it. And i'm still pissed that Barry Bonds broke that record a few years later.

It wasn't banned by baseball when he did it and nobody has any hard evidence that he did anything wrong. If this was a criminal trial it would have been thrown out at the pre-trial hearings, but instead the talking heads and the self-righteous court of public opinion can tear down the man/men that saved the game we call America's past time. It's appalling and hypocritical.

Anyway, read Simmons' article and let me know if you feel any different.