Tag Archives: steroids

Fred McGriff elected to the Hall of Fame

Posted on December 7, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations to him. “The Crime Dog” finally had his day. In Fred McGriff’s first second chance at the National Baseball Hall of Fame voting process, the Contemporary Baseball Era Players Committee did what the Baseball Writers’ Association did not. McGriff … Continue reading →

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Your 2023 Hall of Fame ballot is out

Posted on November 22, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Should be a quieter year, at least for the writers. The National Baseball Hall of Fame revealed the 2023 Baseball Writers’ Association of America Hall of Fame ballot on Monday, with several notable names appearing for the first time, as … Continue reading →

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Further thoughts on the Deshaun Watson suspension

Posted on August 6, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Just a few things I’ve read, to try to understand what happened here. Make of them what you will. Note that I drafted this before the news of the NFL’s appeal. Pro Football Talk: How does Watson, who faced 24 … Continue reading →

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David Ortiz elected to MLB Hall of Fame

Posted on January 27, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations, Big Papi. With the process still tainted by the steroid era, David Ortiz was the lone player elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame this year, while others like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens were shut out. “Big Papi” … Continue reading →

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No Hall of Famers this year

Posted on January 27, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Better luck next year. On Tuesday, the Baseball Writers Association of America revealed the 2021 Hall of Fame voting results. No players appeared on at least 75 percent of this year’s ballots, meaning no one will earn induction through the … Continue reading →

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Bud Selig elected to MLB Hall of Fame

Posted on December 6, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Ugh. Bud Selig, the folksy former commissioner of Major League Baseball who presided over an unprecedented period of expansion, innovation and turmoil in the sport, was elected to the Hall of Fame on Sunday by the hall’s restructured veterans committee … Continue reading →

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Hall of Fame 2017 ballot

Posted on November 25, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

The end of the year always brings a new Hall of Fame ballot with it. Prominent names, old and new, highlight the annual ballot for the National Baseball Hall of Fame, which was released Monday and mailed to eligible members … Continue reading →

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Hall of Fame revamps Veterans Committee

Posted on July 30, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Sounds reasonable, but we’ll see. Baseball’s Hall of Fame has again revamped its veterans’ committees to increase consideration for more contemporary players, managers, umpires and executives. Under the change announced Saturday by the Hall’s board of directors, there will be … Continue reading →

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Griffey and Piazza reach the Hall, Bagwell and Raines come close

Posted on January 8, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Congratulations to the new inductees. Ken Griffey Jr., the sixth-leading home run hitter in history and one of the most complete players of his generation, and power-hitting catcher Mike Piazza were elected Wednesday to baseball’s Hall of Fame. Griffey set … Continue reading →

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2016 Hall of Fame ballot

Posted on November 14, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

The other election of importance going on right now. Under new voting rules established this summer by the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the annual Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot was released Monday on the earliest date in recent … Continue reading →

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Hall calls for Biggio

Posted on January 7, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

Third time’s the charm. Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz and Craig Biggio were elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame on Tuesday, the first time since 1955 writers selected four players in one year. Johnson, Martinez and Smoltz earned induction … Continue reading →

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The frontlogged Hall of Fame ballot

Posted on November 30, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Here are all of the eligible candidates for the MLB Hall of Fame class of 2015: Here are the first-time eligible players, in alphabetical order: Rich Aurillia Aaron Boone Tony Clark Carlos Delgado Jermaine Dye Darin Erstad Cliff Floyd Nomar … Continue reading →

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Maybe the Hall of Fame voting procedure changes aren’t so bad

Posted on August 5, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

I admit, when I heard the news that the MLB Hall of Fame changed its voting procedures to reduce eligibility from 15 years to 10, I was outraged. That’s my usual reaction to things the HOF does, since most of … Continue reading →

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Time to ponder how the Hall of Fame voters will screw things up this year

Posted on December 2, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Pinstripe Alley reviews this year’s Hall of Fame ballot and heaves a sigh. If I was given a ballot and asked to name at most 10 players for induction, I would first complain that I can’t add more, then submit … Continue reading →

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Hall of Fame elects nobody

Posted on January 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Truly, utterly, ridiculous. Steroid-tainted stars Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa were denied entry to baseball’s Hall of Fame, with voters failing to elect any candidates for only the second time in four decades. Bonds received just 36.2 percent … Continue reading →

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The Hall of Fame and guilt by association

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

John Royal hits on one of the least admirable traits of Hall of Fame voters. There are some voters out there once again claiming that Jeff Bagwell used ‘roids, and these same folks are claiming that Craig Biggio used them … Continue reading →

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On peeing in a cup

Posted on November 16, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Another solution in search of a problem from the Republican leadership. Out of the more than 250 bills filed Monday, the first possible day to file legislation for the 83rd session, one measure — concerning drug testing for welfare applicants … Continue reading →

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Why I hold the Hall of Fame voting process in contempt

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

This story has the best distillation of why the Baseball Writers Association of America should have had the Hall of Fame voting privilege taken away from them years ago. Former BBWAA president Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer didn’t … Continue reading →

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Clemens cleared

Posted on June 18, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

The saga ends. A federal jury today acquitted baseball superstar Roger Clemens on charges of lying to Congress about the use of performance enhancing drugs in a stinging rebuke to a four-year campaign by legislators and federal prosecutors to turn … Continue reading →

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Will the feds get another shot at Clemens?

Posted on July 30, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Probably. U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton is considering the possibility that putting Clemens on trial again would subject him to double jeopardy. Walton, who declared a mistrial on July 14, has ordered both sides to submit their arguments in writing … Continue reading →

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Steroid prevalency: Opinions differ

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Richard Justice writes about steroids in sports, in particular steroid use among high school students, and quotes a familiar source. [Don Hooton] cites a Procter & Gamble Co. study in which 2,000 kids were asked if an adult, parent, coach … Continue reading →

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Judge declares mistrial in Clemens case

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

You’ve got to be kidding me. The judge declared a mistrial Thursday in baseball star Roger Clemens’ perjury trial after prosecutors showed jurors evidence that the judge had ruled out of bounds. U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton said Clemens could … Continue reading →

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Bonds found guilty on one charge

Posted on April 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

A mixed result for Barry Bonds and the feds who have been pursuing him. Just like the whole Steroid Era: We’ll never really know. Even the one charge that left Barry Bonds a convicted felon didn’t specify steroids. Instead, a … Continue reading →

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Is this finally the end of steroid testing?

Posted on February 6, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

I hope so, but the fight is far from over. In 2008, Texas became the third state to begin steroid testing, setting up a massive $6 million program. Every one of the state’s 700,000-plus public school athletes — from freshmen … Continue reading →

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Steroid testing can never fail, it can only be failed

Posted on January 10, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It’s definition of insanity time. Don Hooton’s anti-steroid message aimed at young athletes has never been more in demand. The foundation he started six years ago in the wake of his teenage son’s suicide, attributed to steroid use, has grown … Continue reading →

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The 2011 Hall of Fame ballot

Posted on December 6, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Brace yourself for lots of posturing and moralizing about the eeeeevils of steroids and the general decline of society. Suspected steroid users Rafael Palmeiro and Juan Gonzalez are on baseball’s Hall of Fame ballot for the first time, joining Bert … Continue reading →

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Clemens indicted on perjury charges

Posted on August 20, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

Not a good day for the Rocket. A federal grand jury on Thursday indicted seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens for allegedly lying to Congress about using steroids and growth hormone. Clemens faces charges of obstruction of Congress, making … Continue reading →

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Still steroid-free

Posted on August 3, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

No juicing here. The University Interscholastic League on Thursday released results of [steroids tests of high school athletes] for the spring semester of the 2009-2010 school year. Of the 3,308 boys and girls tested last semester, all of the student … Continue reading →

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Some cows are more sacred than others

Posted on May 21, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

To quote Mel Brooks, it’s good to be the king. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst will not be denied his steroid testing money. The Texas Education Agency had included the $1 million cost of the steroid program among its $135.5 million … Continue reading →

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How you can tell when someone isn’t serious about making budget cuts

Posted on February 20, 2010 by Charles Kuffner

An inability to prioritize is a pretty strong indicator. The $135 million budget cut proposal from the Texas Education Agency includes one item that will probably not please Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. The agency suggests eliminating the $1 million needed … Continue reading →

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Steroids: Still not a problem in the schools

Posted on August 25, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

At least, as far as our ridiculous and expensive steroid testing og high school athletes program can tell, we don’t have a problem. More than a year has passed since the state implemented one of the world’s most ambitious steroids … Continue reading →

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Tuesday Lege roundup

Posted on May 12, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Some more notes about what has been happening in the Lege… – It looks like the program to test high school athletes for steroids will be scaled back. Texas lawmakers have reached a deal to slash steroid testing of public … Continue reading → Continue reading →

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Scaling back steroid testing in the schools

Posted on May 6, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Yes, yes, yes. House and Senate budget negotiators will decide in the coming weeks whether the [$3 million a year program to test high school student athletes for steroids] continues — and its scope and pace. “It’s not needed. House … Continue reading →

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Steroid madness

Posted on February 23, 2009 by Charles Kuffner

Can we please declare victory in the war on steroids in Texas high schools and move on to something more productive? Only 11 Texas high school students proved positive for steroid use among nearly 29,000 students tested in the last … Continue reading →

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