MLB legend David Ortiz was the only player elected to the Hall of Fame this week, as his name was on 77.9 percent of the ballots.
No other player could surpass the 75 percent threshold needed to get into Cooperstown.
Candidates such as Todd Helton and Scott Rolen didn’t get enough support, while the players linked to steroids, such as Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Alex Rodriguez, and pitcher Roger Clemens were also denied entry.
In the specific case of Bonds, Sosa, and Clemens, they will disappear from the ballot next year because they already burned their 10 years of eligibility through the BBWAA (Baseball Writers Association of America).
Ortiz Praised His “Favorite Player” Bonds
Ortiz was supportive of Bonds and his HOF candidacy, saying it’s a shock he isn’t in Cooperstown.
“I know there’s a lot of things going on, but to me, he was a Hall of Famer before all of the talk and all of the things. He played the game to a different level,” were Ortiz’s words per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
David Ortiz, saying he idolized Barry Bonds as a young player, believes he belongs in the Hall Fame, too. "I know there's a lot of things going on, but to me, he was a Hall of Famer before all of the talk and all of the things. He played the game to a different level.''
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 26, 2022
Bonds was one of the first prominent baseball stars to congratulate Ortiz once the results of the election were public.
He went to his Instagram account and posted a picture of Ortiz on his batting stance, with a touching message: “CONGRATULATIONS Big Papi on your induction into the Hall of Fame! Well deserved…I love you my brother.”
Barry Bonds congratulates David Ortiz on being elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame pic.twitter.com/SB9IbvW5MG
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) January 26, 2022
It’s pretty clear there is a great deal of mutual admiration between these two baseball legends.
However, Ortiz’s endorsement will mean little for Bonds from a Hall of Fame entry perspective, since he is now out of chances through the traditional voting process.
He will now have to wait until December, when the Today’s Game Era committee meets to discuss the candidacy of those who couldn’t enter via the BBWAA.
Bonds allegedly started taking performance-enhancing drugs somewhere between the late-nineties and the early-2000s, when he was the star of the San Francisco Giants.
His Achievements Speak For Himself
Bonds broke two of the most respected home run records in MLB: the most all-time (762) and in a single season (73 in 2021).
He also won a record seven MVP awards and a boatload of Silver Sluggers, Gold Gloves, home run and RBI crowns.
His achievements are tainted for many, many people, including one-third of the BBWAA voters.
That last situation kept him from the Hall, but he is clearly a deserving candidate.
The slugger was already one of baseball’s best players when he allegedly started to use steroids.
He won two MVP awards with the Pittsburgh Pirates, well before any steroid talks.
He also signed the largest contract for a free agent before the 1993 season.
Bonds retired with a .298/.444/.607 line, 762 homers, 2,227 runs, 1,996 RBI, and 514 stolen bases.
No one, absolutely no one, has those numbers.
Bonds is a big part of MLB and its history, so it certainly doesn’t make any sense he is still unable to enter the Hall of Fame.
NEXT: 3 MLB Greats Remain Out Of The Hall Of Fame
Anonymous says
The HOF without Barry Bonds is a hollow archive.