I know I’m a little late to the conversation but what the hell was the BBWAA thinking not giving Craig Biggio or Jeff Bagwell enough votes to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. I mean seriously! I understand it takes a lot to even be considered for this incredible honor to be amongst some of the if not THE greatest baseball players to ever even play the sport. Certainly if I were a little boy and loved baseball, I would want to be the next Hank Aaron or Babe Ruth or Nolan Ryan. I certainly want that for my nephews.
But to deem both players guilty by association with players who may have taken performance enhancing drugs is not only unfair but shady. Seriously! How often does baseball even get players like Biggio and Bagwell? Were they not around when Biggio hit 3,000 hits or his 300th homer? Or when the Boston Red Sox traded Bagwell in one of the dumbest yet the best for the Astros moves in Major Baseball History? Come on man show some respect for players that played for the game and not solely for the accolades.
I looked at the Baseball Hall of Fame website today and was shocked to not find one Houston Astro or Colt 45 player inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. For those of you asking me via your computer screen “Well what about Nolan Ryan? He was on the Astros?” Indeed he was but he retired a damn Texas Ranger!!!! apparently the Astros have been notorious for letting hall of fame quality players slip through their fingers i.e. Lance Berkman, Hunter Pence, Carlos Lee, Carlos Beltran just to name an effn few!
I don’t about you sports fans out there but I’m really disappointed right now. Arguably two of the greatest athletes to ever step foot in the Astrodome and Minute Maid Park. Two players who spent their entire Major League career here in Houston. Through the winning AND losing seasons! You don’t read, watch or hear about those type of baseball players anymore. I’m not even sure there are athletes in any professional sport like Biggio and Bagwell. Well lemme retract that statement because Andre Johnson has been with my Houston Texans from the beginning. I’m sure there have been plenty of offers made to Johnson to leave the Texans. But thank you football gods for not allowing that travesty to happen. and while I’m praying the football gods please oh please allow us to keep JJ Watt for his ENTIRE career. Amen!
Sorry as mentioned in a previous post I’m easily distracted. LOL
I’m pretty sure I am not the only baseball fan and/or Houston resident outraged about Biggio and Bagwell. And I’m certainly not the only journalist who disagrees with the BBWAA members who felt one or both men were undeserving of such a great honor. Nonetheless, as an aspiring sports journalist, I could not sit idly by nor could I post a full rant on twitter and not let my opinion be heard. Even if no one reads this post, I at least gave my buck twenty-five!
For those who want to read more, here are a few articles about the hall of fame snub.
USA Today – Jeff Bagwell calls Craig Biggio’s exclusion ‘a travesty’
ESPN.com – Craig Biggio: Don’t Link Me to Era
Houston Chronicle – Biggio takes near miss at Hall in stride
Until next time,
The Southern Yankee
NerdtasticallyWrite 