[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

A - Bonds, Clemens, Piazza and Biggio should get in (although Biggio's HBP numbers are a crock with his elbow pad and positioning relative to the plate). Piazza, as said, is one of the greatest offensive catchers ever. I don't think it should be first ballot, but he shouldnt have to wait more than a couple years. Bonds and Clemens should be in the HOF with Palmario. The HOF can address the suspicions and the era as they see fit, but they were two of the best players of their era and in the top ecelon of players ever... aka, a HOF.

B - I don't know if anyone gets in for their first ballot. Biggio isn't better than Alomar and Alomar didn't. Piazza will be closest, but I think he waits a year because he wasn't dynimate defensively. Clemens and Bonds will be the same as Palmario and McGwire (but they have even stronger cases to make the HOF). Sosa was all offense and is, for me, defines the steriod era. Bonds may have been the face to many, but at least he was dominant before he went to a size 8 7/8s ball cap.

PS - I remember when Royce Clayton was supposed to be the next Ozzie Smith. Schilling, while a great post-season guy with plenty of accolades, is not a HOF - he's the next step below - a very good player, but one that can't be considered an alltime great.

I pretty much agree with everything in your post. I'd add that the litmus test should be whether they would have been hof worthy without the drugs. The answer for Clemons and bonds would be an easy yes. McGwire, and Sosa, not so much.