COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. —
As Alex Rodriguez stood on the Hall of Fame stage last weekend, thanking teammates and family while reflecting on his complicated journey to Cooperstown, it didn’t take long for the conversation to shift.
If A-Rod is in, what about Barry Bonds? What about Roger Clemens?
The steroid era debate, which has defined Hall of Fame voting for over a decade, found new life following Rodriguez’s election on his ninth ballot. While Bonds and Clemens have repeatedly fallen short of the 75% threshold — both removed from BBWAA consideration after ten years — Rodriguez’s induction has reignited fierce discussion about the Hall’s standards, inconsistencies, and its role as the ultimate storyteller of the game.
“It’s the Hypocrisy for Me”
“If Alex gets a plaque, there’s no reason Barry and Roger shouldn’t have one too,” said Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees’ captain, speaking to reporters during spring training. “They’re the best hitter and the best pitcher of their generation. Period. Either we’re telling the full story of baseball or we’re not.”
That sentiment echoed throughout clubhouses across the league. Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski was direct: “The all-time home run king is Barry Bonds. It’s as simple as that. If you’re honoring the game, you’re honoring the numbers.”
But not everyone agrees.
“People forget how defiant those guys were through the whole process,” said former Orioles closer and now Yankees bullpen coach Zack Britton. “There was denial after denial. You can’t compare that to a guy like A-Rod who, love him or hate him, eventually owned up to it.”
Voters Remain Divided
Jessica Mendoza, a BBWAA voter who shifted her stance on Rodriguez in recent years, admitted that Bonds and Clemens remain a sticking point.
“Rodriguez, for all his mistakes, took accountability — even if it was late,” Mendoza said. “Bonds and Clemens stayed combative, unrepentant. That’s part of why so many writers still hold the line. It’s not just the PEDs; it’s how they handled the fallout.”
But others argue the punishment has been more than served.
“Look, they’ve already been penalized by missing out on 10 ballots,” said Hall of Famer Jim Thome. “Barry Bonds is the best hitter I ever saw. Roger Clemens was the most dominant pitcher of my generation. Are we really going to keep pretending they don’t belong?”
Thome stopped short of calling the Hall’s approach a mistake but said the ongoing exclusion creates “a gap in the story the Hall of Fame is supposed to tell.”
Public Pressure Builds
A recent USA Today fan poll showed that 71% of respondents believe Bonds should be inducted, while 66% support Clemens — both figures higher than in previous years.
“I think we’re seeing attitudes shift,” said longtime MLB Network analyst Harold Reynolds. “Younger fans don’t carry the same outrage that surrounded this conversation twenty years ago. They just see the numbers. They want the best players represented.”
Still, the Hall’s executive leadership has remained largely silent on the issue. Bonds and Clemens are now subject to consideration via the Contemporary Era Committee, which meets every three years to review candidates overlooked by the BBWAA.
Legends Weigh In
“I faced Roger Clemens — he was as good as it gets,” said former AL batting champion Joe Mauer. “Same with Barry. You can’t just erase what they did on the field.”
Mets star Pete Alonso added his voice: “The Hall of Fame is a museum. A museum should tell the truth, even the uncomfortable parts. Steroids are part of baseball history whether we like it or not.”
However, some players remain firm in their opposition.
“I don’t think you can reward guys who knowingly broke the rules,” said former Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw when asked about Bonds and Clemens. “That’s not the example we should be setting for the next generation.”
The Verdict of History Still Unwritten
With Rodriguez now officially enshrined, momentum seems to be building toward a broader reckoning on how the Hall of Fame handles the steroid era. But whether the Contemporary Era Committee will act differently than the BBWAA remains to be seen.
As one anonymous voter put it to The Athletic, “A-Rod’s plaque isn’t just about him. It opens the door for a conversation that the Hall has been trying to avoid for a long time.”
Will the Hall of Fame eventually make peace with its most controversial legends? Or will Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens remain forever on the outside, watching history be written without them?
The next committee vote may provide the answer — or simply deepen the divide.