He was once the most feared right-handed hitter in Major League Baseball.  He helped lead a once-cursed franchise to two World Series championships.

Yet he had to quit baseball because of performance enhancing drug (PED) allegations.

Such is the sad case of Manny Ramirez.

The question now is Manny a Hall of Famer?

Well, since the Hall voters usually vote on candidates’ numbers, then Manny should be a sure thing.  He had amassed 555 home runs, 1,831 RBIs, 2574 hits and owns a .312 lifetime batting average.

Here are some more of Manny’s honors for you to chew on:

• 12x All-Star (1995, 1998–2008)
• 9x Silver Slugger Award (1995, 1999–2006)
• 2x Hank Aaron Award (1999, 2004)
• World Series MVP Award (2004)
• 29 post-season home runs – 1st
• 78 post-season RBIs – 1st
• 22 grand slams – 2nd (to Lou Gehrig)

Unfortunately, what will keep Manny out is his Hall of Fame arrogance/stupidity when it comes to PEDs.  Not only was he busted once A YEAR AGO, he was busted AGAIN this season.  The Hall of Fame voters made it clear that they will not induct anyone connected to PEDs (see Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Rafael Palmeiro).

I’ve always maintained that steroids and other PEDs does not help a batter hit a baseball.  Either he has that gift or he doesn’t.  And I believe one’s baseball statistics should speak for themselves.

However, I do understand that they call steroids “performance enhancers” (outside of the bedroom) for a reason.  And his stupidity in allowing himself to get caught TWICE should alone keep him out of the Hall of Fame.

Categories: MLB, sports story