A Brief History
On January 29, 1936, the first class of baseball “Hall of Famers” was named and was comprised of Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathewson, and Walter Johnson. Before the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum finally opened in 1939, another 20 men were also selected for this honor.
Digging Deeper
This year’s (2015) group of inductees are the pitchers Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinex and John Smoltz, as well as second baseman Craig Biggio.
Located in Cooperstown, New York, the alleged site of the birth of baseball, the Hall of Fame currently has over 300 inductees made up of Major League players, Negro League players, managers, umpires and miscellaneous other baseball people.
There are, however, some glaring omissions in the membership in this elite club. Baseball’s all-time hits leader, Pete Rose, has been excluded due to his involvement in gambling, and “Shoeless” Joe Jackson has been denied entry because of his suspected involvement in the fixing the 1919 World Series. The all-time major league home run leader (and single-season home run champ) Barry Bonds has been snubbed as a result of his steroid use. Mark McGwire, one-time season home run record holder and the slugger with the highest amount of home runs per at bats and speed ball pitcher Roger Clemens have also been kept out because of suspected steroid use. (Enos Slaughter was blackballed because of his alleged racism and opposition to integration in major league baseball, but was finally inducted in 1985 after he claimed those charges were not true.)
Question for students (and subscribers): Will these former “greats” eventually be admitted? Should they? Please share your opinions with us in the comments section below this article.
If you liked this article and would like to receive notification of new articles, please feel welcome to subscribe to History and Headlines by liking us on Facebook and becoming one of our patrons!
Your readership is much appreciated!
Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Corcoran, Dennis. Induction Day at Cooperstown: A History of the Baseball Hall of Fame Ceremony. McFarland & Company, 2010.
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="8843 https://www.historyandheadlines.com/?p=8843">96 Comments
Maybe Pete Rose, because gambling is an addiction, but the others are cheaters, plain and simple.
I think Pete Rose will eventually become a HOFer becuase I’m pretty sure his gambling did not start until he was a manager and he never bet against his own team. That doesn’t take a way from what he did as a player. The steroid users on the other hand may never be because that enhances their abilities which definitely effected their numbers.
I don’t think Barry Bonds will be admitted because of his use of steroids and how serious of an offense that is in the world of sports, along with Mike McGwire. I think Pete Rose has the highest chance of being admitted because gambling did not impact his performance as an athlete.
There is no way Pete Rose should be omitted! I agree with Mariam about the steroids too. He was the last of the player manager era. Professional players make guarantees about winning all the time how is that different than betting a win i.e. I bet we win. If the commissioners of baseball and football would trade places the walls would come crumbling down on both HOF’S
Although i am not a baseball fan this was an interesting read.
I already knew Ruth and Cobb were some of the first inductees into the MLB Hall of Fame. Ruth is no shock especially since he’s a traitor!!!
Just admitting he is considered guilty, however it didn’t affect the way he plays. There should be restrictions that protect players to create a fair games.
I didn’t know that there is an ‘alleged place of birth’ of baseball, or that it is located in New York.
People need to be more aware of their actions because it can ruin their reputation forever
I think it’s perfectly reasonable that these men were not inducted. Actions come with consequences.
We see the same sort of thing in the NFL with some players, but others get off easy. It’s an honorable thing to hold athletes to a higher standard as so many kids look up to them, as well as adults.
I was aware that “Shoeless” Joe Jackson was denied entry because of the movie Field of Dreams.
I believe it was the right decision to withhold them from the Hall of Fame, they made wrong decisions and it cost them.
People need to think about their actions and think about what would happen to their life and reputation.
I think that it is fair to use their past actions to decide whether they get inducted into the Hall of Fame or not.
I don’t think its right that baseball’s all-time hits leader Pete Rose is excluded from the hall of fame because of gambling.
I think that your actions should be taken into account when making decisions such as this. I agree with the article.
Pete Rose is finally getting some recognition for how great of a baseball player he was. He will be getting inducted in the Cincinnati Reds hall of fame this coming summer, June 24-26 is his induction ceremony
I think it’s right to not vote Bonds, McGwire, and Clemens into the hall of fame because they used steroids to help achieve that success and they don’t deserve to be honored as one of the greats for cheating.
I do feel like it was a good idea to not let them be in the Hall of Fame because of what they have done. Kids are looking up to them and you don’t want them to think it is okay to do the same thing.
I think it’s wrong they cheated by using steroids while playing. Others who didn’t use steroids worked very very hard to make it into the major leagues and earn their spot. They should get the recognition.
THE players who use PEDs should be banned from the sport because cheating ruins the integrity of the game.
It is very wrong that they used steroids but unfortunately that is still the case today with many athletes.
A lot of players aren’t wanting in the Hall of Fame. I’m not a big baseball person so it doesn’t really affect me.
I think it is extremely unfair that men like Pete Rose were not accepted because of issues that are not related to enhancing/changing his athletic abilities or anything related to baseball for that matter. The men that were involved with steroid use or cheating the game in some way have every right NOT to be accepted into the Hall of Fame. -ACL
It’s truly amazing that in 1936, the baseball hall of fame already picked 20 men for the honor of entering it. It just goes to show that baseball is America’s sport.
I have never really learned about the baseball hall of fame. its history that is almost never talked about or covered.
Do you think people should be excluded from the hall of fame due to things they did which were outside the realm of baseball?
My grandpa was very much into baseball and famous baseball players. Because of this, I have learned a little bit about the baseball hall of fame before. I liked to be able to delve into a little bit more of the history.
I am not sure how I feel about the players that are banned. But it makes me think about all the players who might have been doing the same thing and were never caught and are in the Hall of Fame.
For every action, there is an opposite and equal reaction! I understand why these players were not inducted!
It is understandable to exclude players for steroid use or to not want to look like they are encouraging gambling or racism by not accepting these players into the Hall of Fame. They were still very talented athletes that set records and are recognized names and faces of baseball despite being banned. I think this topic could be debated upon to go either way.
I understand why these players were not inducted but I also think that they should still be recognized for something. Like a previous comment stated I agree that it makes you think of those who were never caught and inducted into the hall of fame.
baseball is one of the most classic sports. all of these players should of been honor long before this
Baseball is the American past time, and I think that it is important for the players to play as clean as possible. If the players are doping up before the games then it is not a fair playing field. I do think that it is a smart decision to not to induct players that had been found guilty of steroid use.
It is sad that some of the greats in baseball cannot be included in the Hall of Fame but understandable. I do wonder though if some of the mishaps could be over looked because we have done it many time with other greats in history.
I understand the reasoning behind why some great baseball players should not be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Even though they worked hard and were great players, I look at being in the Hall of Fame as someone who is inspiring and someone who little kids can look up to. In this case, some of these guys in my opinion are not.
I think that it is good that men such as Pete Rose, Barry Bond, and Mark McGwire are not in the pro baseball hall of fame. To me, if you are elected in to this hall of fame, you should not be there by cheating or having very bad moral character.
I love baseball and have always looked at the players as hard workers that earned the rewards and praise they were given. This article makes me think a little differently in seeing that I did not really look at the other side of their lives and some of the bad things that they may be doing like cheating. Steroids are very unfair and helped those using them gain all of the praise and recognition that the people that were just as good, if not better than them truly deserved because of their hard work.
I get that the men that did steroids should not have been inducted into the hall of fame. Personally, I believe that after a certain period of time, the other athletes should be reconsidered. After all, they were really great athletes.
I’m proud to share the last name of one of the first Baseball Hall of Famers Honus Wagner.
As a avid baseball fan I always love learning more about the game, and its’ history. Seeing people inducted into the hall of fame for the amount of effort, and the success that they have had in their game is truly a meaningful moment, and a great part of our American history
It is great to see how American people memorial the athletes, and I also found out in the replies that why some of the athletes cannot have name on the Hall
I have always been a huge fan of the sport, and believe that it is a great honor to be inducted into the hall of fame. I always thought it was so cool to have Dean Chance, and individual in the majors, had gone to the same high school as me. Not only that, but my grandfather was asked to join the majors. That is the reason baseball has always been a favorite thing to me.
To be honest, I do not know about baseball very much because only a few people play baseball in my home country. But, after reading the article, I can feel the spirit of baseball.
I love the game of baseball. I feel that if a player did something to enhance their abilities to perform and achieve their standing, such PED’s they should not be eligible for the Hall of Fame. I am torn when it comes to Pete Rose, his gambling took place during his managerial career.
I agree with Lori that if someone is using a drug to enhance their abilities to perform then they should not be eligible for the Hall of Fame. Also, I can’t believe the hall of fame began nearly 100 years ago,
I feel that the hall of fame is important to athletes and that true talent should advance over the ones that used drugs. It’s just not fair.
I believe that they made wrong decisions and it cost them. I think that it was the right decision to withhold them from the Hall of Fame.
I have been to the baseball hall of fame. It is cool to see all of the people inducted and to read the first ones in this article is special.
Maybe Pete Rose will be allowed into the Hall of Fame eventually, but the people that were suspected of steroids should not be allowed into the Hall of Fame.
The hall of fame is an honor and those who disrespect that should not be allowed in.
Its ashamed to see so many players disrespecting the honor of being in the hall of fame.
Steroid users should ,or even suspected steroid users, not be allowed in the Hall of Fame with no execptions.
Baseball is one of my favorite sports. I love the history of it and all of the players.
America’s favorite past-time, not surprised that Babe Ruth was among the first inducted.
Cooperstown is most definitely on my list of future travel destinations. My bucket list consists of each baseball stadium in the country, and Cooperstown is a MUST!
Not surprised to see Babe Ruth as one of the first introduced, he was one of the greats.
Steroids or not, those guys earned those records. Those balls were hit over the fence by those guys and should count. They counted when the game was played, they should count forever in career stats.
I think you should have a clean record to be inducted.
I don’t believe that these people should be let into the Hall of Fame because they didn’t comply with the rules that the MLB made clear to them.
I think eventually the people that are being shunned from the HOF will get in with time. Steroids or not they are still great athletes in sport that is quite difficult.
Well said and one day Pete Rose will be their where he belongs as one of the greats.
There are a lot of people in the Hall of Fame and one day Pete Rose will be there.
If it was proven that these folks used steroids, or gambled or whatever the transgression was it should be noted and documented in the HOF along with their bust as it was obviously a part of their legacy as it pertains to baseball.
Its great to have a place to honor athletes and have their careers remembered. There is probably an argument to question a lot of people that are in the hall of fame.
Pete Rose did his time. He should be in there. Not like he was caught gambling on his own team.
It should be based on a persons ability to play a sport
Of the original baseball hall of fame inductees, the only name that I recognize is Babe Ruth. Regardless of drug use, I feel that the players that the legendary players that have been banned from the hall of fame should be there (Included/ Not ban). The baseball hall of fame should include all legendary players no matter what they have done.
They really did an amazing job of selecting all the players to receive the first honor of being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Some argue today that football has or will become Americas new favorite pass time, but I have to disagree. I think Baseball will always be Americas favorite pass time and honestly with everything going on in professional football today, I prefer baseball over football any day of the week.
Players should be considered for the Baseball Hall of Fame for their sportsmanship and skills of playing the game instead of overall character.
If steroid use was a contributor to their fame, than no they should not be permitted into the hall of fame. Doing such, would only promote drug use to children.
There is a difference between alleged and convicted. I am tired of rumors, so if there are no facts to back up the claim then they should be allow to be Baseball Hall of Fame. Baseball is still better to watch then football because of the drama NFL has going on.
Another great part of our history. Hope to make it to Cooperstown sometime.
I understand the reasoning behind not letting the players in the hall of fame for illegal performance enhancing drugs, but honestly the public has seen their talents, ability, and accomplishments, we know that they were great players. I don’t agree with illegal drug use, but I feel extremely disappointed in the fact that the great names of Joe Jackson, Barry Bonds, and Mark McGuire are not hall-of-famers.
Even if people use steroids, the athletic ability still has to be present to accomplish such lofty goals. Pete Rose and Shoeless Shoe Jackson should both be inducted.
I feel that they should be indicted into the Hall of Fame because I’m sure that there are a lot of athletes that are in some sort of Hall of Fame and they weren’t caught with the use of drugs. Not every athlete probably got caught that used even one time. Those players were still role models for children and should be indicted.
I am torn about this situation. The athletes had a lot of talent and should be recognized, but at the same time they were using drugs which were illegal that I do not support.
I think the players should be recognized by their skills and contributions to the game and the league. People make mistakes, we have all looked up to someone who has made poor choices. That doesn’t mean we have to follow in their exact footsteps.
I think that there are many great players that should be recognized for their talents. But it is also difficult for me because some players used drugs to enhance their skills. Would they have been as successful as they were if they did not do the drugs?
In my opinion I think they should be added to the baseball hall of fame. Everyone that knows the sport of baseball knows who these men were. A plaque with a statement under the individual could have some type of disclosure such as; Pete Rose, originally excluded due to allegations of alleged gambling… No matter what is did his is still famous for being the “Home Run King”
I was just talking about the National Baseball Hall of Fame earlier today with someone. To me, to not have baseball’s all-time hits leader, career home run leader, and arguably one of the best pitchers in the history of the sport (Roger Clemens) to not be members of the HOF, is utterly ridiculous and absurd. Regardless of what they did off the field, those guys are still some of the best to ever play the game. If you can’t have a HOF with them in it, what’s the point of having one in the first place?
Pete Rose made it into the Red’s Hall of Fame!
I feel as though these players should NOT be inducted into the HOF. Having such an award is based on more than just off the field plays. How they conducted themselves in society, where thousands look up to them, should definitely be considered when making someone apart of something so big.
I believe being in the Hall of Fame is more about character than just your athletic performance individually. Though I do not know much about baseball, so maybe I am wrong!
No, they should not be permitted to be inducted. The rules are simple, if they are not followed and are still able to be inducted, what use is it to have rules?
I think they should not be included. The Hall of Fame is call the ‘Hall of Fame’ for a reason. You should not only be recognized for your talent, but your moral character as well.
I have to admit I do not follow baseball, well any sports really. Nonetheless, the “greats” who have been left out and not inducted is for good reason. I do not feel at any point in time should we applaud or recognize someone who has used a drug to accomplish a goal. Our children look up to these athlete’s and they should have high expectations. After all, would Barry Bonds want his kid on steroids?
In my opinion they should be added to the Hall of Fame. Even though they did wrong they still did their time. Do you truly think that everyone in the hall of fame has a clear background?
I don’t think they should be inducted. If people can’t follow the rules why allow them to be known as the “greats”?
If you cheat by using steroids, or corking your bat, or fixing games, you don’t belong in the hall of fame.
I agree, if you cheat you should not be allowed in the hall of fame. I believe that is disrespectful to those who were honest and worked hard for that title.
I have mixed emotions on this. As my first love (still to this day) baseball is very much a part of my life. For the integrity of the game I agree that enhancing your performance should not be permitted. Having said that, while I disagree with what Pete Rose did, I do not feel that his punishment is fair. There are other players who did far worse things and got off much easier.
As I know that Baseball is one of the American favorite sport, people like to watch and get know more about their state team against with other state. I never know that the first baseball team was named Hall of Famers. I know when people hit the ball out, they have to run fast to get at the specific position.
Although as a Chinese, I do not understand the rules of baseball, but I can feel the love of baseball. when i study in access program, i took part in watching he baseball game at Cleveland, it was a good memory.
I do not think they should be admitted. Those that earn do so on honest capabilities. If they needed steroids to get there they do not belong there.