Anna 
The Baseball Hall of Fame is nearing the end of its reckoning with the Steroid Era. Since Mark McGwire’s debut on the ballot in 2007, voters have grappled with the impact of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in Major League Baseball. As a result, some of the game’s greatest players have been excluded from Cooperstown.
By 2031, when Alex Rodriguez falls off the ballot after failing to gain election, it may mark the last time a major player is denied Hall of Fame induction due to PED use. Rodriguez, now in his fourth year on the ballot, and Manny Ramirez, in his ninth, represent the final “slam-dunks” who were actually suspended for PEDs. Their suspensions have become a key sticking point for some voters, who have supported the candidacies of Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens but rejected Rodriguez and Ramirez.
While McGwire eventually admitted to using PEDs, Bonds and Clemens were implicated in the Mitchell Report. All three fell short of the 75% vote share required for induction. The debate over their inclusion was a major topic when they debuted on the ballot in 2013. By the time Rodriguez appeared in 2022, the conversation had shifted, and the efforts to sway opinions had largely subsided. Some, including myself, had hoped that a younger generation of voters would finally push these players into the Hall, but that has not materialized.
In the coming years, there will likely be more candidates from the Steroid Era on the fringes of Hall of Fame consideration. However, players like Robinson Cano, Ryan Braun, and Nelson Cruz don’t inspire much passionate defense. The departure of Rodriguez and Ramirez from the ballot will truly signal the end of an era.
Regardless of where one stands on PEDs and Hall of Fame eligibility, it is crucial that we don’t erase the Steroid Era from baseball history. These players, despite their controversial paths, shaped the game in ways that should be remembered. The importance of passing down an appreciation for these generational talents is far more significant than any plaque in Cooperstown.
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