Tag: Barry Bonds

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Reasons remain the same why Bonds and Clemens weren’t elected; Kent hit production gets him elected

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Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens (left) and former Miami Marlins coach Barry Bonds (right) were once again denied entry to the Hall of Fame this time by the Players Committee. (Getty file photo)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Amaury just wanted to ask you if you not surprised that former San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds was not elected to Cooperstown.

#2 Considering the reasons why Bonds was not elected this year were they the same reasons as before his connection with admitting during grand jury testimony that he unknowingly took steroids and his bad relationship with the media?

#3 Fernando Valenzuela also missed election. Valenzuela was a well respected figure in the game was his denial to making it to the Hall due his overall career where some writers felt his overall career didn’t meet the typical Hall-of-Fame bar for pitchers in terms of longevity and sustained excellence.

#4 For former New York Yankee and Boston Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens the most given reason for Clemens rejection to being elected to the Hall of Fame was the chair of the Hall acknowledged that the committee’s decision likely mirrored many of the same “Steroid Era” concerns that affected the writers’ votes.

#5 Talk about former San Francisco Giant second baseman Jeff Kent and his election to the Hall of Fame. Some writers state that he has the most home runs for a second baseman in MLB history with 377 in his 17 year career, high run production, and hit consistently hit for average at .290. Was Jeff Kent the best candidate out of those other players for this year’s Hall of Fame candidates?

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874

From the second you step in the front door, the sounds of Latin America will gently seduce your ears and continue as you relax outdoors with your favorite cocktail enjoying the view. The wonderful flavors and aromas of our cuisine will not disappoint.

We use only the finest, freshest, local ingredients in every dish and every dish is prepared to order. Enjoy live mariachi music weekly and on special occasions, catch balet folklorico dance performances among other live entertainment. Come visit us and have a great time! Enjoy fast, friendly service, fantastic food & cocktails, music and allow us to share our beautiful Mexican heritage with you.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant at 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874.

Jeff Kent punches ticket to Cooperstown

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Former New York Met and San Francisco Giant Jeff Kent addresses the media at the MLB baseball winter meetings in Orlando Fla on Mon Dec 8, 2025. Kent was elected into the Cooperstown Hall of Fame on Sun Dec 7, 2025. (AP News photo)

By Stephen Ruderman

Former Giants’ second-baseman Jeff Kent got his ticket to Cooperstown when the Contemporary Era Committee voted him in as the first member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2026.

This a well-deserved honor for Kent, who hit .290 in 17-year big league big league career from 1992 to 2008. The 16-person committee is made up of six hall-of-famers; six current and former baseball executives; and three other members of the media. 12 votes were required, and Kent got 14.

Kent was originally eligible under the conventional BBWAA ballot from 2014 to 2023, but did not get in. So was Kent’s former teammate and adversary, Barry Bonds. Bonds, like Kent, did not get in on the BBWAA ballot.

However, Bonds did not get in on the Contemporary Era ballot either. In fact, under a new rule, since Bonds received fewer than five votes, even though this committee will next vote in December 2028 for the Class of 2029, Bonds will not be eligible again until December 2031 for the Class of 2032.

To make matters worse for Bonds under this new rule, if he once again fails to reach five votes in 2031, he will be permanently ineligible to get into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Kent remained mum on the subject of Bonds not getting into the Hall of Fame, but lavished praise on his old rival. Bonds, meanwhile, was humble in another rejection from the hall, as he congratulated Kent on getting into Cooperstown.

The man whom Kent gave a lot of credit to was his old skipper, Dusty Baker, who may join Kent in the Hall of Fame in as little as a year from now. Kent, who originally came up as a dead-pull hitter, learned how to go the other way from Dusty.

Kent was drafted out of Cal Berkeley by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1989, and made his major league debut in 1992. Kent was traded over to the New York Mets in the middle of 1992, and he would remain in Queens until he was traded to the Cleveland Indians in the middle of 1996.

The Giants tapped Brian Sabean to replace Bob Quinn as the general manager at the end of 1996. One of Sabean’s first moves was to trade longtime and fan-favorite third-baseman Matt Williams to the Indians for Kent.

Giants’ fans absolutely lost their minds over the move, but after a disastrous 94-loss last-place finish in a miserable 1996 campaign, Sabean was willing to try anything. Sabean also added J.T. Snow and a few others, and the Giants miraculously went all the way from worst to first and won the National League West in a magical 1997 season.

Kent spent six years with the Giants from 1997 to 2002. He won the Willie Mac Award in 1998. He then beat out Bonds for the National League Most Valuable Player Award after hitting .334 in 2000, when Kent and Bonds, along with Ellis Burks, led the Giants to a memorable 97-win season—the best record in Baseball—in the first year at then-Pacific Bell Park.

Kent had another solid season in 2001. Despite a controversial injury in 2002, he hit .313 with a career-high 37 home runs, and helped lead the Giants to just their third National League Pennant in San Francisco.

Giants’ fans all know the story of how the 2002 World Series ended. After the Angels wrapped up their title in Game 7, Kent told the media gathered at his locker, “I feel like a loser.”

Dusty left the Giants to go manage the Chicago Cubs after the tragic finish to 2002, and a lot of players from that team also left. One of them was Kent, who signed with the Houston Astros. In his first visit back to Pacific Bell Park in April 2003, Kent was mercilessly booed by Giants’ fans.

The booing got even worse when Kent joined the Los Angeles Dodgers of all teams. Kent spent his final four seasons—2005 to 2008—with the Dodgers, and was even involved in a war of words with the Giants’ fiery young right-handed relief pitcher, Billy Sadler, on Aug. 9, 2008.

Kent announced his retirement on Jan. 21, 2009. When the Giants inducted him onto the team’s new Wall of Fame on Aug. 29 of that year, he was cheered like old times, and it seemed as if he was never booed in his old ballpark.

Kent has remained connected with the Giants’ organization since. He has shown up to spring training as a special instructor on multiple occasions, and has taken part in various ceremonies.

Kent hopes to go into the hall as a Giant. It is not known whether the Giants will retire Kent’s old number of 21, which would be very well deserved.

Kent had his ways, and feuded with a lot of people. While Kent was not the kind of player who hung or even became friends with his teammates, he came up with that same grin every time he stepped up to the plate, and he always put his team ahead of himself on the field. The man was a competitor who wanted to win every single time he took the field.

In a game that has unnecessarily been made overly complicated over the last eight years, players should heed the wise words of the new hall-of-famer: “the money lies in the RBI.”

Well said! Congratulations on the greatest honor of your life, Mr. Kent!

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: From My Baseball Notebook Strategy You Don’t see Everyday

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Former San Francisco Giant outfielder Barry Bonds once walked with the bases loaded on May 28, 1998 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Here is Bonds in action trying to score at the plate at Candlestick Park. (USA Today file photo)

From My Baseball Notebook Strategy You Don’t see Everyday

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

The Date and Place: May 28, 1998, at Candlestick Park/3Com Park, San Francisco, as the Giants’ Spanish play-by-play announcer on station KIQI 1010AM, San Francisco. Below is what happened.

At the time, nobody really believed it was happening. I witnessed a very rare play in baseball history during a game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Francisco Giants, The Game: It was the bottom of the ninth inning when Arizona’s manager Buck Showalter ordered an intentional walk to the Giants’ dangerous slugger Barry Bonds with the bases loaded and two outs.

Arizona was leading 8-6, and manager Showalter chose to give the Giants a free run by giving the intentional bases on balls to Bonds. Showalter intentionally walked Bonds and made the game 8-7. The next batter was Diamondbacks catcher Brett Mayne.

The 12,066 crowd were on their feet when Mayne hit a solid line drive to deep right field as Stan Javier caught the last out, and Buck Showalter, and his counterpart Dusty Baker, manager of the Giants, both could breathe again as the game came to a conclusion in 3 hours 26 minutes.

Buck Showalter was a genius with that strategy as his Arizona Diamondbacks won 8-7 over the Giants. For most people, including me, at the Press Box and Broadcast booths, it was the first time we witnessed such a moment in a game.

That season, Barry Bonds won the NL MVP award, hitting .303 with 37 home runs and 122 runs batted in. The Ultimate Respect: A manager gets paid to win games, and uses his baseball knowledge and strategy in every game, but during this game, Diamondback’s manager, Buck Showalter, gave Barry Bonds the ultimate respect, an intentional base on balls to walk in a run (with the game on the line) in the ninth inning and prevailed.

How many times has this happened? Only eight times in history has a player been intentionally walked with the bases loaded in the Major Leagues. Here they are: Abner Dalrymple (1881), Nap Lajoie (1901), Del Bissonette (1928), Mel Ott (1929), Bill Nicholson (1944), BARRY BONDS (1998), Josh Hamilton (2008) and the most recent instance was in 2022, when the LA Angels intentionally walked Corey Seager. Of the eight on this list, two are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame: and Museum Nap Lajoie and Mel Ott.

However, what I called at the mic that night in May at a cold and windy Candlestick Park was done only by two players in history to win the game: Barry Bonds in this game,1998 and Josh Hamilton in 2008, both of whom were walked by their respective managers in the ninth inning of a game. The only time I have seen this in my life as a fan or broadcaster. What they say, “you never know what you’ll see at the ballpark”

Major League Baseball Record for Intentional Bases on Balls. For one season (Barry Bonds), 120 times in 2004, Career Record: Barry Bonds 688.

“I was such a dangerous hitter, I even got intentional walks during batting practice” -Casey Stengel.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874

From the second you step in the front door, the sounds of Latin America will gently seduce your ears and continue as you relax outdoors with your favorite cocktail enjoying the view. The wonderful flavors and aromas of our cuisine will not disappoint.

We use only the finest, freshest, local ingredients in every dish and every dish is prepared to order. Enjoy live mariachi music weekly and on special occasions, catch balet folklorico dance performances among other live entertainment. Come visit us and have a great time! Enjoy fast, friendly service, fantastic food & cocktails, music and allow us to share our beautiful Mexican heritage with you.

LaTerraza Mexican Restaurant at 1027 2nd Street in Old Sacramento give them a call at 916-440-0874.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: BALCO and Victor Conte could be a huge speed bump for Bonds and Clemens going into Hall election

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Former San Francisco Giant outfielder Barry Bonds and former Boston Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens are once again candidates for the Hall of Fame as the BBWAA will take a vote Dec 7, 2025. Bonds and Clemens fell short for the last ten Hall of Fame ballots. (photo by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum)

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Once again former Giants outfielder Barry Bonds and former Boston Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens are on the ballot for Hall of Fame induction. Both have been accused of steroid use during their years in MLB. They are up for consideration to be elected to the Hall of Fame and it’s been reported that this is the year they finally could be elected?

#2 Clemens finished his Hall of Fame balloting with 65.2% of the vote and Bonds received 44% of the vote in 2024 down from 66% from 2023. They both need 75% of the vote to be elected.

#3 Reports are that both Bonds and Clemens are getting closer and this ballot called a special ballot. This is a contemporary special ballot that has six other players on it that includes Bonds and Clemens. As you know the Baseball Writers of America Association have the last say on who gets voted in the Hall of Fame and Bonds and Clemens have been rejected for the last ten years.

#4 Bonds had admitted to Federal Grand Jury under oath during the BALCO investigation that he unknowingly took Performance Enhancing Drugs that was given to him in the form of the clear and the cream by his personal trainer at the time Greg Anderson. Clemens was accused of taking Human Growth Hormone by his former trainer Brian McNamee who testified under oath at a US Congressional Hearing that Clemens was using steroids while pitching for the New York Yankees. Clemens under oath swore he did not ever use steroids at the hearing. Were these the two factors that have kept Bonds and Clemens out of the Hall of Fame?

#5 In essence do you see Bonds or Clemens having a shot at getting elected to the MLB Hall of Fame this year by the BBWAA on Dec 7th of this year?

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com

Victor Conte BALCO podcast host Michael Villanueva: With Bonds up for Hall of Fame election will the Conte death reverberate his chances?

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Victor Conte former founder of BALCO holds up a autograph photo of track star Marion Jones in his BALCO office on Oct 21, 2003 (AP News photo)

Victor Conte BALCO podcast with Stephen Ruderman:

#1 With the death of former BALCO founder Vic Conte and the special Hall of Fame election coming up on December 7th will that bring up negative memories and the writers might again not vote for Barry Bonds into the Hall of Fame?

#2 Will Conte’s time in prison for distributing steroids also play into an ex-con who is accused of distributing steroids to someone that is considered the all time home run king?

#3 Conte passed away from pancreatic cancer at 75 there is no doubt his legacy will be his association with Barry Bonds and BALCO.

#4 The steroids scandal had quieted down for awhile but with Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds up for election for the Hall of Fame and Victor Conte’s passing it’s been a subject of discussion on many talk shows.

#5 On the local level two former Oakland A’s players Jeremy and Jason Giambi were noted for their use of performance enhancers. Jeremy passed away on Feb 9, 2022 by suicide by shooting himself in the chest.

Michael Villanueva is a podcast contributor for http://www.sportsradioservice.com

MLB The Show podcast Bruce Macgowan: Dodger-Giant rivalry history; Will Bonds ever get in the Hall? Giants pay tribute with “House that Barry Built” video

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Barry Bonds addresses the media during a 2003 press conference at the height of the BALCO controversy. Bonds is being honored by the San Francisco Giants with the video called “The house that Barry Bonds built” (SF Gate file photo)

MLB The Show podcast Bruce Macgowan:

#1 The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants have some long and rich history that goes back to the late 1940s and through the 1950s and through today.

#2 Talking about some of those historic days of the Dodgers and Giants rivalries you were at the game in 1965 when former Giant Juan Marichal hit former Dodger John Roseboro with a bat on the head and causing a bench clearing melee. Years later Marichal made up with Roseboro. The baseball writers at the time didn’t vote to put Marichal in the Hall of Fame because of the incident but Roseboro went to the writers and said to give Marichal another chance and it was something that Marichal was forever grateful for.

#3 Former Dodger managers Walter Alston and Tommy LaSorda were legendary managers and took the Dodgers to the World Series. With current manager Dave Roberts he’s taken the Dodgers to the World Series numerous times under his tutelage do you consider Roberts in that same circle as Alston and LaSorda?

#4 The Giants are paying tribute to Barry Bonds with a video called “The House that Barry Built” some reporters and talk show hosts point out why are the Giants paying tribute to Bonds, that there is a reason why Bonds has not been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. They say he was a huge part of the BALCO controversy, he had alleged connections to steroids through his former trainer Greg Anderson and that he’s guilty in the court of public opinion as far as the BBWAA is concerned regarding the Federal Grand Jury investigation where he said he unknowingly took steroids and was found guilty of obstruction of justice. Does that all go away now that the Giants want to pay tribute to him?

#5 One of the biggest fears that fans have is what took place at Dodger Stadium when ICE agents showed up at their front gates trying to gain access to get at fans, employees, and anyone that moved. The Dodgers wound denying ICE access to the park. Is this still something that fans, employees and maybe even the players have to worry about at ball games?

Bruce Macgowan is a podcast contributor at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast: Bonds and Clemens Hall of Fame hopes dim with rule changes; Yanks Cole out for season with Tommy John surgery; plus more news

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Former Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Barry Bonds seen here being inducted into the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame during a ceremony for the 2024 class before the Pirates game against the Cincinnati Reds Sat Aug 24, 2024. Bonds chances of Cooperstown Hall of Fame induction have dimmed due to new rule changes in 2025. (AP News file photo)

On That’s Amaury News and Commentary podcast:

#1 Former San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds recently said regarding being nominated to the Hall of Fame and being on the ballot for the last ten years but not receiving the 75% “I’m not talking about that.” The same can be said about former New Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens. Both players are on the Contemporary Era ballot. In the last election in 2022 Bonds or Clemens did not receive more than four votes. Reasons given for the lack of votes to get in the Hall involvement in the PEDs scandal and the Hall of Fame’s character clauses. Rule changes in the Hall of Fame Committee state that any player, manager, executive who doesn’t get five or more votes will they will have to sit out the next three year voting cycle.

#2 Amaury, It was a short stint for Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole 34 who pitched in two spring training games and gave up seven runs. The Yankees ace said he felt pain in his elbow going into Friday and went through imaging tests which showed a torn ulnar collateral ligament that will require Cole to need Tommy John surgery that ends his 2025 season.

#3 Amaury, a mash up of the Texas Rangers caps, jersey and logos has created a visual of a vulgar word in Spanish the New Era cap in the 5950 collection has the T block superimposed over the X in the block in the word “Texas” it was a logo that appeared in the front of the team’s jerseys. MLB did not make any comment about enforcing the change. The Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels, and Sacramento A’s mashed up hats also spell hidden vulgar words as well. Is this something that MLB didn’t catch or was making a buck more important than catching these hidden in plain sight words?

#4 Lawrence Butler signed a huge seven year $65.5 million deal with the Sacramento A’s on Monday. Butler met with the press in right field where Butler plays and where a table and chairs were set up to take questions from the media. Butler in 2024 hit .262, 22 home runs, and 57 RBIs.

#5 Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts signed a four year $32.4 million contract extension which calculates to a $8.1 million annual salary. The contract eclipses Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell’s $40 million annual salary. The Dodgers as an organization continue to show why they take care of their players, employees, broadcasters, and now manager Dave Roberts.

Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.

Giants bolster rotation add Blake Snell on 2-year deal for $62 million

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Former San Diego Padre Blake Snell who had been a free agent for most of the off season and pre season agreed to a two year deal with the San Francisco Giants on Mon Mar 18, 2024 (AP file photo)

By Stephen Ruderman

The Giants have strengthened their rotation, as they have agreed to sign left-handed ace, and 2023 National League Cy Young Award Winner Blake Snell to a two-year, $62 million contract, according to MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman.

The deal caps off a strong off-season for the Giants, which started off with them adding Bob Melvin as manager, and continued with the signings of Jung-hoo Lee, Robbie Ray, Jordan Hicks and Tom Murphy. Jorge Soler and Matt Chapman were signed during Spring Training, and Snell could be set to join them in the final week of camp.

Blake Snell came up with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016, and was their ace through the COVID-shortened 60-game sprint season of 2020. He won the American League Cy Young Award in 2018; struggled, but helped lead the Rays to the Postseason in 2019; and led them to the World Series in 2020.

Snell was infamously pulled by Rays Manager Kevin Cash in Game 6 of the 2020 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the bottom of the sixth inning, despite throwing a shutout. After Snell was pulled, the Dodgers scored two runs to take a 2-1 lead, and won the game 3-1 to win their first world championship since 1988.

Following Cash’s controversial move, Snell was traded to the San Diego Padres that off-season. Snell struggled in a 2021 campaign that saw the Padres collapse down the stretch. He then bounced back, and helped lead the Padres to the National League Championship Series in 2022. Snell then won his second cy young award in an otherwise disappointing 2023 season for the Padres.

Snell’s cy young season was believed to be a massive booster for him as he entered free agency. However, Snell, along with Chapman, Cody Bellinger and Jordan Montgomery, who were all represented by prominent agent Scott Boras, all remained on the market as teams reported to Spring Training in February. Snell, along with Chapman and Bellinger were signed after games got underway, and Montgomery remains a free agent.

Snell now joins Logan Webb, who finished second in cy young voting last season. Snell also joins what is set to be a strong rotation for the Giants. Along with Webb and Snell, young left-handed phenom, who saw time late in 2023, will be bumped from the second to the third start in the rotation.

The rotation could also be further fortified by the experiment of turning the flamethrower Jordan Hicks from a reliever to a starter; the return of Alex Cobb and the newly-signed Ray off the Injured List; and the potential of right-handed Carson Whisenhunt making his major league debut later this season.

Snell will still need to pass a physical. Once he was done so, it could be assumed that Snell will join the Giants in their final week of camp in Scottsdale, and will get a start or two prior to the Giants’ opener in San Diego on March. It is most likely that Snell will begin the Regular Season in the minor leagues, and be ready to join the Giants in the middle of April.

Other Notes:

The Giants and Longtime Public Address Announcer Renel Brooks-Moon mutually parted ways on Monday.

Brooks-Moon, who had served as the Giants’ PA announcer for 24 years since then-Pacific Bell Park’s opening in 2000, has enshrined herself into Giants Lore. She was behind the microphone for the Giants’ run to the National League Pennant in 2002, and their three world championships in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

Brooks-Moon was at Barry Bonds’ breaking of the single-season record on Oct. 5, 2001 against the Dodgers, and his breaking of the all-time home run record on Aug. 7, 2007 against the Washington Nationals.

She was also there for Matt Cain’s Perfect Game against the Houston Astros on June 13, 2012, as well as Tim Lincecum’s two no-hitters, which were thrown on July 9, 2009 and June 25, 2014 respectively, both against the Padres.

Brooks-Moon has become a beloved and outspoken figure not just with the Giants, but with San Francisco and the Bay Area. She was the voice of the Cathedral of 3rd and King, and for so many younger fans, they do not know Giants Baseball without her.

There has yet to be word on who Brooks-Moon’s replacement will be, or how the process will play out.

J.D. Davis signed a one-year deal with the Oakland Athletics on Saturday, following his release from the Giants on March 11.

Davis was encouraged to come to Oakland by Alex Wood, who had been a member of the Giants’ rotation from 2021 to 2023. They are also joined by Ross Strippling, who the Giants traded to Oakland on Feb. 2.

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: At 81 years old Pete Rose asks for another chance to get into the Hall

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Former Cincinnati Red and Philadelphia Phillie Pete Rose doffs his cap to the Citizen’s Bank in Philadelphia crowd on Sun Aug 7, 2022 at an alumni event. Rose has asked MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred this week to forgive him and allow him the chance to get back into baseball in a letter to Manfred’s office. (AP News photo)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Former Cincinnati Red great and lifetime banned player Pete Rose has asked for forgiveness and one more chance for enshrinement in to baseball’s hollowed Hall of Fame. Rose who was banned for life for betting on baseball and betting on his team as a manager of the Reds in a letter sent to Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred this week pleading to allow Rose one more chance to end the lifetime ban and allow him a shot at getting elected into the Hall of Fame.

Rose since being banned by the late baseball Commissioner Bart Giamatti back in 1989. Giamatti at the time made clear that there was no way he would consider the MLB all time hits leader a chance at forgiveness and a way back into baseball and into the Hall of Fame.

It’s been nearly 33 years since the ban and Rose is 81 years old and wrote asking Manfred to consider reinstating him back into the National Pastime saying: “I am writing today for three reasons,” Rose wrote this week “First, because at my age I want to be 100% sure that you understand how much I mean it when I say that I’m sorry. Second, to ask for your forgiveness. And third, because I still think every day about what it would mean to be considered for the Hall of Fame.”

Rose since his confession of betting on baseball and the lifetime ban had said in the letter that he let his father down and his former manager Sparky Anderson down that he thinks about it everyday and that was one of the biggest disappointments in his life. Rose stated that besides spending time with his partner and his kids as his life’s greatest joy he would like to have the chance to get back to the ball park with the fans and spend time with his former teammates.

Rose said that he has spent the last 33 plus years soul searching and expressed his deepest regret for gambling on baseball and his team the Reds when he was the manager of the club. Rose basically is saying that he’s in his early 80s and would like to be forgiven, given another chance from Manfred and he could be a positive influence in baseball if the ban were lifted. In the sports hobby despite the lifetime baseball ban Pete Rose’s artifacts are hot commodities, baseball cards, signed pennants, gloves, bats, his rookie card from 1963 commands an asking price in mint condition at $40,000.

Rose has appeared at baseball card shows and has commanded some of the longest wait times for signatures of some of the top Major League players. Rose is serving a lifetime ban from baseball with eight other MLB players who were on the 1919 Chicago White Sox better know as the Black Sox who were accused of betting and throwing the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds. The eight men out from that 1919 White Sox team, Had Felsch, Chuck Gandil, Ed Cicotte, Joe Jackson, Buck Weaver, Swede Risberg, Fred McMullin, and Claude Williams.

During the steroid era the players from that time who are not banned from baseball but seldom have been invited back to join their old teams for special festivities and honors. None of the steroid era players have been elected to the Hall of Fame but could be by a special committee namely Barry Bonds, Curt Schilling, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa are names as possible candidates through a special committee called the Today’s Game Committee.

As Rose might be watching Bonds, Schilling, Clemens and Sosa get elected into the Hall of Fame he might still be waiting on the sidelines for that one chance he was asking for to get inducted into the game’s hollowed halls.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary: MLB–2022 Hall of Fame Ballot PED Guys will fall Short

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Barry Bonds (left) and Roger Clemens (right) are holding out hope that the MLB Baseball Writers of America Association will vote them into the Hall of Fame but reports say it’s very unlikely (ESPN file photo)

MLB–2022 Hall of Fame Ballot PED Guys will fall Short

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

These “steroids era” players will probably fall short. Barry Bonds with an MLB record 762 home runs and seven MVP Awards, Roger Clemens, with a record seven-Cy Young Awards, are the two first and then possibly Alex Rodríguez, who some time ago admitted to using PED’s and said it might cost him the Hall of Fame.

David Ortíz is an interesting case, he also admitted to using PED’s years ago. Other interesting characters are Samuel “Sammy” Sosa, who said he “never tested positive for steroids” during his career and in 2005 he appeared in front of the US Congress House Committee on Government Reform together with Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmeiro as well as some baseball executives.

But if you want to talk about it interesting, how about Curt Schilling, who a year ago asked to be removed from the 2022 HOF list, but was rejected and will remain on the BBWAA ballot for the tenth and final time.

About a year ago Schilling called the Baseball Writers Association of America a bunch of “spineless cowards”. Schilling was never connected to steroids use or any PED’s during his career, but his controversial twitters became a litmus test for most of those that opposed his point of view.

If you are eligible you are eligible, it should only be about your baseball career. It is the Hall of Fame not the Hall of Saints and baseball should not bring statues down, but build it for their heroes.

I do give a lot of credit to the BBWAA for rejecting Curt Schilling’s wishes to be removed from the ballot. If we go down that rabbit hole, we must also, never elect or maybe remove some that are already in Cooperstown.

I am sure if research is done there will be found to be some very unsavory characters in the Hall. Such Hall of Fame luminaries like Roger Hornsby, a .358 lifetime hitter who batted over .400 three times, there were persistent rumors he was a member of the KKK.

The great Ty Cobb, who by all accounts was a terrible human being who won a history-leading 12-batting titles, was an admitted racist. He is in Cooperstown. Cap Anson was widely reported by the media he was totally opposed to black players in baseball.

Back to the present. Some of the greatest sluggers in recent history who are tied to the use of PED’s, steroids and their home run totals: Barry Bonds 762, Alex Rodríguez 696, Sammy Sosa 609, Mark McGwire 583, Rafael Palmeiro 569, Manny Ramírez 555.

Among the luminaries of the mound; Roger Clemens, a tremendous 24-year career ended with 354 wins, 3.12 earned run average, and 4,672 strikeouts, a 6-time 20+ game-winner. Clemens won a MLB record of seven Cy Young Awards.

I have a feeling a lot of ballots will be blank this year. However, if a BBWAA writer does not send a ballot that means he/she is abdicating his/her responsibility. Each of the writers who vote can choose from 0 to 10 candidates. Last year no player reached the 75% minimum

Inductees from the era committee, elected last year: Six, Buck O’Neil, Bud Fowler, Jim Kaat, Tony Oliva, Orestes (Minnie) Miñoso, and Gil Hodges are in already. Remote possibility they will add any others on this list

There is a guy that played more games than anybody else, 3,562 and also lead everybody in history in hits with 4,256, was selected to 17 All Star Games, yet he is the first to be banned from baseball (1989), for life since 1943 as an investigation determined he bet on games with the Cincinnati Reds while he was the manager.

Peter Edward Rose “Mr.Hustle”, is still waiting for a Commissioner who will Pardon him. Note: His violation was while he was managing, not as a player. But gambling has always been the “capital sin” in the game.

Each voting cycle, qualified members of the BBWAA name no more than ten eligible players whom they consider worthy of Hall of Fame honors. To be enshrined, a player must be named on at least 75% of the voters’ ballots. Currently, players are removed from the ballot if they are named on fewer than 5% of ballots or have been on the ballot ten times without election.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary podcasts each Tuesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com