Former New York Yankees catcher Jorge Posada played alongside Alex Rodriguez for eight seasons. The two do not seem like very close friends.
During a segment with “CBS This Morning” that aired on Wednesday, Posada was asked if he believes known performance-enhancing drug users should be allowed into the Hall of Fame. His answer was very clear.
“No,” Posada told Mark Strassmann, via CBS New York. “No. No, I don’t think it’s fair for the guys that have been in the Hall of Fame that have played the game clean.”
The five-time All-Star was then asked specifically about A-Rod.
“I don’t think it’s fair. I really don’t,” Posada said. “I think the guys that need to be in the Hall of Fame need to be (players) that played with no controversy.”
Strassmann wondered out loud if Rodriguez would be surprised to hear such a stern opinion from his former teammate.
“Oh, yeah,” he said. “Yeah.”
At least one current Hall of Famer says he would boycott the Hall if a known steroid user was voted in. Others, like one of the greatest pitchers to ever live, accept the steroid era as a part of baseball history and don’t believe it erases what certain players have accomplished.
David Brown of CBS Sports raises a fantastic question about Posada’s opinion. If Jorge is unwilling to acknowledge A-Rod as a Hall of Fame player because he used steroids, would the former Yankee catcher be willing to vacate the World Series New York won in 2009? Or, are shameful acts excusable when they help a team win but not worthy of individual recognition?
The debate can be a lot more complicated than it seems, especially for players who did not use PEDs but benefitted from those who did.
