Welcome back to another Humm Baby Baseball countdown and we’ve got a special and controversial one today – a snubs video but only involving MLB players with some type of PED connection. These are players who have been left out of the Hall of Fame due primarily or in most cases exclusively because of that connection. I’ve covered in depth some of my biggest MLB Hall of Fame Snubs including greats like Andruw Jones, Don Mattingly and Dwight Evans among many others, who for some reason or another have been rejected by the voters and are still on the outside of Cooperstown looking in. But I’ve always left off players with P.E.D connections, because we already know why they’re not in, and whether some of them should be allowed in or not is highly debated.

There are some fans who believe any player who ever took steroids or PEDs of any kind should never be allowed in the Hall of Fame under any circumstances. Others say, hey – MLB and former commissioner Bud Selig didn’t try to stop it, they didn’t enforce any rules against it, and a huge percentage of the league was doing it, so just consider it a particular era of the game – the Steroid Era – and vote the great players in who deserve it just like they did in every other era. But then, what about the more recent players who actually failed steroid tests, and were suspended for it? Again, opinions vary. Do they deserve harsher treatment since they actually failed a steroid test? Or does it matter? The debates continue to rage on.

For me, it’s a case by case basis. If a player appears on a Hall of Fame ballot, then that player is officially eligible and broke no rule so serious as to merit a ban. So, just as I would do for any player, I would follow the Hall of Fame’s guidelines for voters and use previously voted in players as precedence in how I should vote. The guidelines say

Voting shall be based upon the player’s record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.

So, according to those instructions, record and playing ability are considerations along with sportsmanship, character and integrity – and this is where Hall of Fame voters are able to justify not voting for some of the all time greats we’ll talk about today. Taking steroids is certainly a mark against a player in those categories, but nowhere does it say they have to be perfect human beings. There are many players in the Hall of Fame who have broken rules before and many with serious character flaws. Many if not most players will do whatever they can do gain an edge, and if it’s up to those who run the game to make sure there are enforced rules in place to stop it. Gaylord Perry was famous for throwing the illegal spitball for much of his career, and he was elected to the Hall of Fame. Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby even wrote an article titled “You’ve Got to Cheat to Win,” in which he claimed he cheated every chance he could and saw cheating in almost every game. I’m not condoning cheating, but the point is, players have done it throughout baseball history and will do so until measures taken to stop it, and when they’ve had Hall of Fame careers, they’ve been allowed in the Hall of Fame.

In the 90’s and 2000’s, absolutely nothing was done to curtail the use of steroids. Furthermore, there are without a doubt multiple players in who have already in the Hall of Fame who have done steroids. One might be David Ortiz, who reportedly tested positive for PEDs in 2003, when a series of tests was given to MLB players and was supposed to be secret, but it eventually leaked. Ortiz was given a pass by the voters, but they were not so gracious with other players. For these reasons, more and more fans are leaning towards the opinion that at least some of these great players should be in, and I completely agree. However, a player who gets suspended over and over once testing was implemented should be more harshly judged, since they intentionally violated MLB rules that were clearly in place, as opposed to what happened during the Steroid Era. So let’s get started with today’s top 10 MLB players with PED connections that deserve to be in the Hall of Fame and I’ll explain briefly why they are suspected of steroids, their career accomplishments and why I think they should be considered for Cooperstown. But first, I have one honorable mention, who probably doesn’t quite make my Hall of Fame ballot, but how could I do a steroid-related video without mentioning

Jose Canseco

We have to start with the Godfather of the Steroid Era, Jose Canseco. Growing up in the late 80’s, there was no bigger name in baseball, and my friends and I used to buy packs of baseball cards just hoping to pull a Jose Canseco. He made baseball history, becoming the first player to crush 40 homers and steal 40 bases, and he also won a Rookie of the Year, MVP Award and four Silver Sluggers. Canseco crushed 462 homers in his career, just 38 short of the magic 500. Unfortunately, he got just 1.1% of the vote on the Hall of Fame ballot, and later wrote a book that completely exposed MLB for the steroid era. He also named names of several teammates who Canseco alleged did steroids. In the book, he described his own process of taking steroids, and didn’t hold back whatsoever. The book didn’t make Canseco many friends and all but guaranteed he would never sniff Cooperstown. But should he get in?

Well, he definitely had the stardom – Canseco was an absolute superstar for years, and made 6 total All Star Teams. Statistically, though, despite the home run total, he is borderline with a .266 career average, 1,877 hits, and no gold gloves. On top of the steroids and the book, he also had lots of controversies and arrests throughout his career, which hurts regarding the character clause. Ultimately, although I wouldn’t mind seeing a Jose Canseco plaque in the Hall of Fame, the reality is there’s no way Jose Canseco should get in while some of the other names I’m about to get to are still on the outside. So, although I’m a Canseco fan and love listening to his videos, like the one where he challenges Aaron Judge to a home run contest, I would have to say in all seriousness, for the time being, Canseco is not a Hall of Famer, although if the name of the museum was accurate, he would definitely belong as there was nobody more famous during his prime as Jose Canseco. Now, let’s get to my Top 10 Snubs.

10. Manny Ramirez

Starting off, we have Manny Ramirez, who actually failed not one, not two, but three steroid tests. The first was the same 2003 test that David Ortiz failed. Had this been his only failed test, the voters would’ve had to elected him, since they gave Ortiz a free pass for the same test. But Ramirez went on to fail two more, one that resulted in a 50 game suspension, and another that led to his retirement. For this reason, I understand voters leaving his name off the ballot, especially since they are only allowed 10 names. But Manny was an unbelievable hitter even as a youngster, likely before he ever touched steroids. He hit .308 with 31 home runs and 107 RBIs his first full season at just 23 years old in 1995.

By the end of his career, statistically anyway, Manny was easily a first ballot Hall of Famer. He is part of the 500 Home Run club with 555 career bombs, and retired with an extremely impressive .312 batting average. He was a 12-time All Star, 9-time Silver Slugger, World Series MVP and even won a batting title in 2002 with a .349 average. He finished in the Top 10 for MVP 9 times although he never won the award. But he was known as being very quirky during his career, and his odd behavior led to the phrase “Manny Being Manny.” But that quirkiness turned into misbehavior and he was involved in many controversies on top of the 3 failed steroid tests. For this reason, if I had a ballot, he would be one my last choices, and would usually get left off, but I do believe Manny would’ve had a Hall of Fame career had he never done steroids, and so if some of the better players on this list ever start getting in, I wouldn’t mind seeing Manny get in as well.

9. Jason Giambi

Giambi is one of the few PED-connected players who played throughout the entire steroid era of the 90’s and 2000’s, and continued his career into the 2010s. He ended up playing for 20 years, retiring after the 2014 season. Giambi hit 440 career bombs, but also excelled at getting on base, leading the league in walks four times and retiring with a .399 on-base-percentage and over 2,000 hits. He also has an MVP on his shelf, winning the award in 2000 with 43 home runs and 137 RBIs, which was before he started juicing according to his testimony.

Unlike most of the big names of the steroid era, Giambi apologized for using steroids during his career and urged other players to do the same. He was named in the BALCO investigation, and admitted to using steroids during the offseasons from 2001 to 2003. “I was wrong for using that stuff,” he told USA today in 2007, “What we should have done a long time ago was stand up – players, ownership, everybody – and say, ‘We made a mistake.’”

He continued to put up big numbers after he stopped juicing, smashing 32 home runs for the Yankees in 2008. Giambi always had a great eye to go along with a pure and powerful bat, but there’s no telling what his stats would’ve looked like without steroids. But he owned up to his mistake and apologized, then went on to have a great 20-year career. He also seemed to be a great teammate who was well-liked, otherwise there’s no way he would’ve stayed in MLB through his age 43 season. All told, he wouldn’t be one of the first names I put on a ballot, but if I had room, I would definitely check Jason Giambi’s name for the Hall of Fame.

8. Andy Pettitte

Up next is Andy Pettitte, whose connection to PEDs has definitely helped keep him out of the Hall of Fame. He was straightforward about his use of HGH to help heal from an injury during 2002, and I personally believe that Pettite was not some one who was juicing throughout his career. He seemed honest and apologetic, and when he did it, HGH wasn’t even banned in MLB. As for his career, Pettitte had 256 wins, but it was his postseason performance that puts him over the top. He is the game’s all-time leader in playoff wins and innings pitched and is fourth in strikeouts behind Clayton Kershaw. A huge part of that is the Yankee teams he played for, but Pettitte still had to pitch well in the biggest moments and he consistently did that. As for the bulk of his career, he won over 20 games twice, struck out 2,448 batters, and ended his career with more wins than any pitcher in a Yankee uniform besides Whitey Ford and Red Ruffing, both Hall of Famers. Pettitte’s career WAR of 60.2 is higher than many big-name Hall of Famers including Whitey Ford, so Andy Pettite is another name I would put on my ballot if I had room, and in fact he was on my unofficial 2021 ballot, but he got just 13.7% of the vote that year. He did make some progress, though, getting 27.9% on this year’s ballot.

7. Rafael Palmeiro

Palmeiro retired with 569 homers and 3,020 hits, normally more than enough for easy induction into the Hall of Fame. He was a fantastic hitter from his early years with the Cubs when he made the All Star team in 1988 and hit .307 with 41 doubles, although his power didn’t really show up until he was with the Texas Rangers in the early 90’s, the notorious steroid-driven team that had Canseco, A-Rod, Pudge, and Juan Gonzalez. He smashed 37 bombs in 1993, and the power continued with Baltimore with he hit 39 homers in 1995 and again in 1996. Back with Texas, he had perhaps his best year in 1999 with 47 homers and a .324 average.

He was also a smooth fielder and won three Gold Gloves. Palmeiro was named in Canseco’s book as a steroid-user and he appeared at a Congressional Hearing vehemently denying it, wagging his finger and saying he never used steroids, period. A few months later, he was suspended for failing a steroid test, but continued to claim he never intentionally put a banned substance into his body. It’s hard to believe that based on his failed test, Canseco’s book, and his sudden power surge when he joined the early 90’s Texas Rangers. It’s impossible to know what type of career he could’ve had without the ‘roids, but he was a first round pick, top prospect, and natural hitter from his early days, who had a chance to have a Hall of Fame career and develop big power without the extra help. As it stands, he is still one of just 7 members of the 3,000 hit, 500 home run club, which includes Willie Mays and Hank Aaron, so although I wouldn’t put his name above the next 6, Palmeiro is some one I would definitely vote for.

6. Alex Rodriguez

The only reason A-Rod is this low on the list is because he, like Manny, did steroids while testing was in full force and more than once, failed a test. If he had borderline stats like Jason Giambi or Jose Canseco, there is no way I could support him for the Hall of Fame. However, Alex Rodriguez was a generational talent whose numbers rank among the best in the history of the game. He was elite from his early years with the Seattle Mariners, before he ever touched steroids, crushing 36 home runs and 54 doubles in 1996, with a league-leading .358 batting average, finishing 2nd for the MVP at just 21 years old. He continued to put up massive numbers in Seattle, before signing a record-breaking deal with the Texas Rangers.

It was then he first started using steroids, and his stats blew up even bigger. He led the league in homers each of 3 seasons in Texas and took home the MVP in 2003. He was also an elite defender, winning back to back Gold Gloves, before moving on to the New York Yankees, where he won two more MVPs. It was in 2009 that his steroid use came to light, and he admitted to using them during his time with the Rangers. But then, in 2014, he was nailed again for steroids in part of a Biogenesis Scandal, and was subsequently suspended for a year. He still returned to crush 33 home runs at 40 years of age in 2015, proving his incredible talent. A-Rod ended his career with 696 home runs and a .295 average, but he would’ve probably hit over 500 without steroids, although we’ll never know for sure. Despite the steroid failures, Rodriguez was still one of the greatest players of all time, and although I would check the other names ahead of him on his list first, if I had room on my ballot, I would still vote for Alex Rodriguez, who got 37.1% of the vote on this year’s ballot.

5. Gary Sheffield

Up next is Gary Sheffield, who got close but fell short with 63.9% of the vote in 2024 when he fell off the ballot. As a ballplayer, there is little doubt – he is definitely Hall of Fame worthy. Sheffield smashed 509 home runs, which historically would be enough alone to get a player in the Hall of Fame. But he also had 2,689 hits, a .292 average, 9 All Star selections, 5 Silver Sluggers and a batting title in 1992 when he hit .330. He finished in top 3 for MVP 3 times, once finishing second in 2004. He might not be a first ballot Hall of Famer, but there’s no doubt he has the numbers to get in.

But, he had a PED-connection, stemming from workouts with Barry Bonds in the early 2000s, during a time MLB did not test for steroids. He admitted to using some of the cream Bonds was using to help his muscles recover, and found out later that was a type of steroid. Sheffield also reportedly bought a small amount of vitamins from BALCO. He has one of the more flimsy connections to PEDs and it’s probable he was only taking them during the 2002 season with the Atlanta Braves. The vast majority of his career stats should be considered legit, and Sheffield was a massive talent from his early years in the 80’s with Milwaukee and he went on to become one of the best players in the early history of the Marlins.

Sheffield is a perfect example of how voters will pick and choose who they will forgive regarding steroids and who they won’t. He was surrounded by steroid users and made a couple mistakes during a short period of his career, but it shouldn’t keep him out of the Hall of Fame, especially if other players like Ivan Rodriguez, Jeff Bagwell, Mike Piazza and David Ortiz are all in, all of whom have had some type of connection to PEDs. Sheffield is definitely a major Hall of Fame Snub in my opinion.

4. Sammy Sosa

Next on the list is a tough one, as Sammy Sosa clearly put together a Hall of Fame career statistically, but it’s likely he wouldn’t have been a Hall of Famer without the juice. He was a more or less average player with the Rangers and White Sox before his first big season in 1993 with the Cubs when he hit 33 home runs. He went on to have a solid 5 year period of averaging 34 homers and 100 RBIs from 1993 to 1997. This type of production alone could’ve led to a Hall of Fame career for Sosa. But then, he became a video game player in 1998, when he and Mark McGwire revived the sport and brought in millions of new fans as they chased the single-season home run record of 61, held by Roger Maris. Sosa ended up with 66 bombs and the MVP Award. McGwire ended up with the record with 70.

But it wasn’t a one and done season for Sosa. He continued to crush home runs at a ridiculous pace, smashing at least 60 home runs two more times and averaging 58 per season for a 5 year period. He eventually joined the exclusive 600 home run club, and finished his career with 609 round-trippers to go along with 2,408 hits and 1,667 RBIs.

Interestingly, the only evidence against Sosa is a positive test from the leaked 2003 list, the same list that had David Ortiz on it. So, David Ortiz got a complete pass and was inducted on his first ballot no less, while Sammy Sosa was snubbed on every ballot until he fell off. If the Hall of Fame wants to give the benefit of the doubt to players like Ortiz, Piazza, Pudge Rodriguez, and so on, then that should be the standard for every one – so, Sammy Sosa, with 600 career home runs, 7 All Star selections, and an MVP, should be in as well.

3. Mark McGwire

Moving into the top 3, we have another generational talent in Mark McGwire, a man born to hit home runs. He drilled 32 bombs for the USC Trojans in 1984 and was drafted 10th overall by the A’s. He had one of the most impressive rookie years ever seen in 1987, smashing 49 bombs with a league leading .618 Slugging Percentage, winning the Rookie of the Year Award. McGwire became an instant superstar and made 6 straight All Star teams, until injuries started to hamper his career around 1993. He played in just 74 games over a 2 year period, but he got healthy, his bat exploded and McGwire smashed 52 bombs in ‘96, then 58 in 1997. In 1998, with the St. Louis Cardinals, he crushed 70 bombs, breaking the single season home run record, then followed it up with 65 in 1999. McGwire hit 583 career bombs, made 12 total All Star teams, 3 Silver Sluggers, and even a Gold Glove.

He was named in Canseco’s book and appeared in the Congressional Hearing, where he famously declined to answer any questions, saying he did not want to “talk about the past.” However, he eventually did admit to steroid use during his career, although he said he didn’t need it for performance; rather to recover quickly from injuries and stay on the field more. There’s no doubt McGwire had all the talent in the world as far as hitting home runs, and he would’ve been a great power hitter without steroids, although just how great is unknown. Nevertheless, based on his accomplishments and the fact that he played during a time no testing was done and no measures were taken to prevent steroid use, I definitely support McGwire’s entry into Cooperstown and he deserves a plaque, although not before these next two legends of the game.

2. Roger Clemens

Perhaps the greatest pitcher to ever live, Roger Clemens was identified early as a potential superstar. He was drafted in the first round by the Boston Red Sox in 1983, and just 3 years later, he won the Cy Young and MVP with an absolutely dominant year in 1986, when he went 24-4 with 2.48 ERA and 238 strikeouts. He followed it up with another Cy Young Award in 1987, then won a 3rd in 1991. By 1996, his last year with Boston, he had already put together a Hall of Fame career, setting multiple records including a 20 strikeout 9-inning game. He even tied Cy Young with the most shutouts in Red Sox history. It was that year he did the impossible and struck out 20 batters in a single game for the second time. All this was done before he touched steroids.

But Clemens then he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he likely first started taking ‘roids. He immediately won a 4th Cy Young award in 1997, leading the league with 2.05 ERA with an also league-leading 292 strikeouts and 21 wins. In 1998, he won the award again. If there was any doubt that Roger Clemens was among the greatest pitchers to ever live, that doubt was gone. And he just kept dominating, winning his 6th Cy Young with the New York Yankees then a 7th in 2004 with Houston. No pitcher has won more Cy Young Awards. He retired with 354 wins, 46 shutouts, and 4,672 strikeouts.

Clemens never tested positive for steroids and never admitted to steroid use, even denying it under oath, but his personal trainer Brian McNamee testified that he regularly injected Clemens with steroids from 1998 to 2001. Clemens was indicted and charged with perjury, but McNamee’s testimony changed throughout the years. His inconsistency led to Clemens acquittal. Other evidence against Clemens included a steroid distributor named Kirk Radomski handing over shipping receipts that showed HGH was mailed to Roger Clemens home in 2002 and 2003, but his wife, Debbie, testified that that shipment was for her as she was taking HGH to prepare for a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit shoot.

The entire story is way too long to get into here, but at the end of the day, Roger Clemens was one of the greatest pitchers in the history of baseball even before he was alleged to have started taking steroids. His greatness as a ballplayer should make up for his shortcomings and mistakes, including his psychotic moments. Clemens is one of the greatest starting pitchers of all time and deserves a plaque in Cooperstown.

1. Barry Bonds

But to no one’s surprise, coming in at #1 has to be Barry Bonds, one of if not the best hitter to ever live. Bonds, like Clemens, could’ve retired at a certain point in time before he ever touched steroids and would’ve easily been inducted into the Hall of Fame on his first ballot. He was a 6th overall selection out of Arizona State, then won his first two MVPs with the Pittsburgh Pirates, before signing with the Giants. In 1993, he hit 46 home runs with a .336 batting average, winning a 3rd MVP. Bonds was also a 5-tool talent who won 8 Gold Gloves and stole at least 25 bases 11 times. He could do it all at an elite level and was considered the best player in the game throughout the 1990’s.

By most accounts, he never touched steroids until around 1999. In 1998, Bonds led the league with an 8.1 WAR, crushing 37 homers with 28 steals, a .303 average and a Gold Glove, but the baseball world was paying much more attention to Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa as they chased the single-season home run record.

Based on the fact that there was no testing and no enforcement at the time, it would’ve been incredibly impressive if Bonds just took the high road and continued to play clean while he never got the attention he deserved. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be what happened as Bonds turned into an absolute monster entering into the 2000s. In his mid 30’s, he suddenly hit a career high 49 home runs in 2000 then had a season for ages in 2001, breaking McGwire’s record, finishing with an unbelievable 73 home runs. He had the most dominant 5-year period ever before seen, winning 4 straight MVPs, 5 straight Silver Sluggers, while leading the league in walks and OPS+ every season, all in his mid-to-late thirties when most players slow down significantly.

Bonds eventually ended his career with 762 home runs, 2,558 walks, 162.8 WAR and an amazing 168 intentional walks, all MLB records. But it was in 2004, around when the crackdown on steroids began, that the San Francisco Chronicle alleged that Bonds received Steroids from BALCO. Later, Gary Sheffield said he was introduced to BALCO and the testosterone-based cream by Bonds while in training before the ‘02 season. Bonds eventually admitted to receiving the cream & clear from his trainer, Greg Anderson, but didn’t know they were steroids. Books like the “Game of Shadows” were released, detailing the use of steroids and other drugs by Bonds. Investigations later revealed a BALCO screening test by Bonds in the year 2000 that tested positive for Steroids, but Bonds never failed a test during official MLB testing that started in 2003

Based on the stats, appearance, and evidence, it’s pretty tough to deny Barry Bonds was taking something during the early 2000’s when he became an absolute cyborg, but there is also no doubt he was one of the best baseball players ever born long before he touched steroids. He was a 3-time MVP on his way to being the first MLB player to ever hit 400 home runs and steal 400 bases, a feat he would’ve easily accomplished without the juice. Like I said at the start of this video, MLB has determined in their own rules, even today, that taking steroids does not result in the banning of a player like gambling on baseball does. So, why do voters treat this as a cardinal sin that should keep every player out forever no matter how good they were or no matter what they accomplished on the field, even before they took steroids? I can understand some of the names on today’s list being kept out due to steroids, but I’ll never understand how one of if not the greatest baseball player to ever live is still being snubbed – and he is my #1 PED-connected snub of all time, and perhaps the greatest snub of all time, period – Barry Lamar Bonds.