Barry Larkin hasn’t even been in the Hall of Fame a year…but already he’s drawn his line in the sand regarding the biggest names on this year’s ballot.
The 2012 inductee, who spent most of his career playing during the “steroid era” wants to keep baseball’s most exclusive club clean.
Meaning…no Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens or Sammy Sosa.
“I think if you cheated, no, you don’t deserve it because I know how difficult it was for me to get there and how difficult it was for me just to compete on an everyday basis,” Larkin told reporters Thursday. “I think if you cheated, I think you made a decision and I don’t think you belong.”
The longtime member of the Cincinnati Reds went on to compare those accused of using steroids to his former skipper Pete Rose.
“I look at what has happened with Pete Rose. Pete Rose is not a Hall of Fame player, banned from baseball. But if you go up to the Hall of Fame all of his records, his bats, everything in is represented in the Hall of Fame,” Larkin said. “I see a very similar thing happening with guys that are associated with or been accused of using steroids. I think they will recognize their accomplishments but I don’t think those players will be admitted to the Hall of Fame.”
The 2013 Hall of Fame voting results will be announced Wednesday, January 9.
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