Last Updated: September 24th, 2026 by Matthew Brown
The steroid era will always mar baseball history. It is an unfortunate conundrum for Hall of Fame voters to deal with. The Hall of Fame is about baseball history and should be able to tell its story whether it's good or bad. As of right now, it has held out a lot of the bad.
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Whether you like it or not, these 10 players were a big part of baseball history, and a big part of a lot of baseball fans' lives. Let's go through them and debate their feasibility of getting into the Hall of Fame.
10. Jason Giambi: The Power-Hitting MVP
When Mark McGwire went to St. Louis, it seemed like the Oakland A's would be low on power. Jason Giambi quelled all of those concerns with his AL MVP season in 2000. He would go on to record 2,010 hits with 440 home runs and 1,441 RBI in his illustrious 20-year career.
This would be close as to whether he'd get enough votes to be inducted, but it's not exactly a question if voters are avoiding known steroid users.
| Jason Giambi — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 2260 |
| AB | 7267 |
| H | 2010 |
| HR | 440 |
| RBI | 1441 |
| SB | 20 |
| AVG | .277 |
| OBP | .399 |
| SLG | .516 |
| OPS | .915 |
| MVP | 1 |
| All-Star selections | 5 |
| Silver Sluggers | 2 |
9. Andy Pettitte: The Postseason Warrior
Andy Pettitte is the one player on this list who wasn't known for his power. Yes, I know he was a pitcher, but there is someone higher on this list who was his teammate and known as a power pitcher. Pettitte used pitch location and selection to keep hitters off-balance.
He has some great career numbers, like 256 wins and 2,448 strikeouts. But with a 3.85 career ERA, I'm not sure if that's enough to get him into the Hall of Fame, even considering the timeframe.
| Andy Pettitte — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| W | 256 |
| L | 153 |
| ERA | 3.85 |
| G | 531 |
| IP | 3316.0 |
| SO | 2448 |
| WHIP | 1.35 |
| SV | 0 |
| All-Star selections | 3 |
| World Series titles | 5 |
8. Gary Sheffield: The Intimidating Slugger
It's kind of crazy to say that Gary Sheffield was an underrated steroid player, but that's what it feels like. He earned nine All-Star selections over the course of 14 seasons, sustaining his high-level play for a long time.
The five-time Silver Slugger racked up 2,689 career hits with 509 home runs and 1,676 RBI. For how violent his swing seemed to be, Sheffield maintained a great .292 lifetime batting average. That came over the course of a long 22-year career.
| Gary Sheffield — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 2576 |
| AB | 9217 |
| H | 2689 |
| HR | 509 |
| RBI | 1676 |
| SB | 253 |
| AVG | .292 |
| OBP | .393 |
| SLG | .514 |
| OPS | .907 |
| All-Star selections | 9 |
| Silver Sluggers | 5 |
| World Series titles | 1 |
7. Mark McGwire: The Home Run Record Breaker
I know he wasn't exactly the first, but he – along with Bash Brother Jose Canseco – was the first to make the suspicions prominent when he led baseball in 1987 with 49 home runs. He would then be the first to break the single-season home run record with his magical 70 back in 1998.
Mark McGwire may have been an icon for steroid usage, but he was an icon for the game of baseball as well. It's the perfect juxtaposition to describe this debate.
| Mark McGwire — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 1874 |
| AB | 6187 |
| H | 1626 |
| HR | 583 |
| RBI | 1414 |
| SB | 12 |
| AVG | .263 |
| OBP | .394 |
| SLG | .588 |
| OPS | .982 |
| All-Star selections | 12 |
| Gold Gloves | 1 |
| Silver Sluggers | 3 |
| World Series titles | 1 |
| Rookie of the Year | 1 |
6. Rafael Palmeiro: Mr. Consistency
With such a smooth swing and no years leading the league in home runs, there probably would have been less suspicion on Rafael Palmeiro than on some others in the era.
He had great longevity, playing for 20 years and tallying 3,020 hits with 569 home runs. His most impressive ability was his plate discipline. He walked 1,353 times, which was five more than he struck out.
| Rafael Palmeiro — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 2831 |
| AB | 10472 |
| H | 3020 |
| HR | 569 |
| RBI | 1834 |
| SB | 97 |
| AVG | .288 |
| OBP | .371 |
| SLG | .515 |
| OPS | .886 |
| All-Star selections | 4 |
| Gold Gloves | 3 |
| Silver Sluggers | 2 |
5. Sammy Sosa: The Home Run Hero
Sammy Sosa was the yang to Mark McGwire's yin. For those fans who didn't want to root for the straight-laced superstar first baseman, they went for the more eccentric, dynamic superstar right fielder. Sosa's 609 career homers actually eclipse McGwire's total.
That would be a first-ballot case, but Sosa has not only been known to use steroids. He was caught using a corked bat, adding to his list of controversies.
| Sammy Sosa — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 2354 |
| AB | 8813 |
| H | 2408 |
| HR | 609 |
| RBI | 1667 |
| SB | 234 |
| AVG | .273 |
| OBP | .344 |
| SLG | .534 |
| OPS | .878 |
| MVP | 1 |
| All-Star selections | 7 |
| Silver Sluggers | 6 |
4. Manny Ramirez: The Pure Hitting Machine
I actually think that Manny Ramirez was on his way to becoming a Hall of Famer, but his suspensions at the end of his career shut all of that down. If he took steroids later in his career, how many did he take throughout it when it was less policed?
With 555 home runs and 2,574 hits in his career, I'm pretty sure he would be in Cooperstown like some other Hall of Famers who had steroid suspicions but never proven.
| Manny Ramirez — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 2302 |
| AB | 8244 |
| H | 2574 |
| HR | 555 |
| RBI | 1831 |
| SB | 38 |
| AVG | .312 |
| OBP | .411 |
| SLG | .585 |
| OPS | .996 |
| All-Star selections | 12 |
| Silver Sluggers | 9 |
| World Series titles | 2 |
3. Alex Rodriguez: A-Rod’s Statistical Brilliance
There are many people who have grown tired of Alex Rodriguez. He's been an analyst on TV, an owner of sports teams, and a celebrity in newsworthy relationships. This is all after his career ended. Suffice to say he was tiresome as a player too.
His connection to steroids was apparent and made worse by the fact that he had many more years left to play than the steroid users who started their careers in the '80s. Regardless, 696 career home runs is undeniable.
| Alex Rodriguez — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 2784 |
| AB | 10566 |
| H | 3115 |
| HR | 696 |
| RBI | 2086 |
| SB | 329 |
| AVG | .295 |
| OBP | .380 |
| SLG | .550 |
| OPS | .930 |
| MVP | 3 |
| All-Star selections | 14 |
| Gold Gloves | 2 |
| Silver Sluggers | 10 |
| World Series titles | 1 |
2. Roger Clemens: The Rocket’s Dominant Legacy
For pitchers, Roger Clemens is that Barry Bonds-like pinnacle. He doesn't get talked about as much because he doesn't have an all-time statistical record like Bonds has. He does have an incredible seven Cy Young Awards.
Only Randy Johnson is even close with five. Clemens also won an MVP, two pitching Triple Crowns, and earned 11 All-Star selections. His array of accomplishments is incomparable.
| Roger Clemens — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| W | 354 |
| L | 184 |
| ERA | 3.12 |
| G | 709 |
| IP | 4916.2 |
| SO | 4672 |
| WHIP | 1.17 |
| SV | 0 |
| MVP | 1 |
| Cy Young | 7 |
| All-Star selections | 11 |
| World Series titles | 2 |
1. Barry Bonds: Baseball’s Home Run King
Before any of the players on this list get into the Hall of Fame, Barry Bonds should be there first. There have been many players throughout all levels of baseball who have tried to use steroids to reach the mountaintop.
Most of them nobody knows about because they never made it to the MLB. Barry Bonds is that mountaintop they chased, and he remains that way, tainted or not.
| Barry Bonds — Career | Total |
|---|---|
| G | 2986 |
| AB | 9847 |
| H | 2935 |
| HR | 762 |
| RBI | 1996 |
| SB | 514 |
| AVG | .298 |
| OBP | .444 |
| SLG | .607 |
| OPS | 1.051 |
| MVP | 7 |
| All-Star selections | 14 |
| Gold Gloves | 8 |
| Silver Sluggers | 12 |
