Rafael Palmeiro Makes Hall of Shame

Earlier this summer, during the big Congressional steroids hearing song and dance, the only player to emphatically deny using steroids was Rafael Palmeiro, who got himself all worked up, jabbed his finger forward, glared at the Congressmen, and angrily said he'd come "to make it very clear that I have never intentionally used steroids. Never. Ever. Period." Perhaps at that moment we should have shot the raging Viagra spokesman with a tranquilizer and asked him why he added the word "intentionally." This week the unasked question was answered when it was revealed that Palmeiro failed a steroid test.

Now it appears Palmeiro is both a cheater and a liar. His defense--I didn't know I was taking it--is pathetic and calls to mind Barry Bonds, who thought his steroids were flaxseed oil, and Sammy Sosa, who "accidentally" picked up a corked bat and took it to the plate in a game.

The new motto in baseball: "Oh my goodness! I cheated? I had no idea!!"

I'm not buying it from Rafael Palmeiro, who brutally attacked the integrity of former teammate Jose Conseco when the big Surreal Life star asserted that Palmeiro had used steroids. Everyone took turns smearing Jose for his lack of integrity, and the most enthusiastic shots came from Palmeiro, guardian of fairplay and honesty.

My how the tables have turned.

Sadly for Rafael, there is no purple pill for a flacid Hall of Fame resume. And that's what he now has. Even with his gaudy 500 home runs and 3,000 hits.

Being the 7th-best first baseman for 16 years is all well and good, but it hardly makes you an All-Time Great. Raffy's Hall bid rests solely on his staggering career stats, and as Bill Simmons correctly noted in his recent ESPN the magazine column, career statistics mean very little in baseball these days--especially among steroid users (a group Raffy has now joined).

If the Hall of Fame has decided to welcome average players who inject hormones to become above average players able to play 20+ years that's their decision. But if Palmeiro, a Fred McGriff that enjoyed shorter fences, is a Hall of Fame baseball player then Cooperstown will be bursting with statues in 15 years. And that demeans the honor.

Sadly, some like Jayson Stark don't get it. But luckily Buster Olney does. And so does Tim Keown. And I can't believe I'm referring to his writing, but even Skip Bayless gets it. Hopefully voters will heed the call.