Hall of Famer Frank Thomas is not pleased with some of this year’s inductees into baseball’s most prestigious club.
Thomas, who was elected in 2014, said he’s “not happy” that two suspected PED users — most likely Ivan Rodriguez and Jeff Bagwell — are heading to Cooperstown in July.“They’ve let a few people in already we all know,” Thomas said at the Chicago White Sox fan convention over the weekend, via the Chicago Tribune.
 
 
Frank Thomas says 2 ‘cheaters’ were just elected into Baseball Hall of Fame
 
“It’s uncomfortable at this point. I’m sure this year’s going to be uncomfortable because we’ve got two great players going in, but they know. It’s no secret. If they didn’t do it, they would be stomping and kicking and in interviews saying, ‘I didn’t do it.'”
Thomas didn’t specifically name Rodriguez or Bagwell, but they are two of three former ballplayers voted in this year (along with Tim Raines) and both have been linked to PED use in the past.
Rodriguez was accused of using PEDs by his former teammate Jose Canseco, who claims to have personally injected Pudge with steroids, as written in his 2005 memoir “Juiced.” Bagwell was always suspected of using PEDs and did not get elected into the Hall until his seventh year on the ballot.
“Some of these guys were great players. But they wouldn’t have been great players without drugs. … I don’t mind these guys doing what they want to do for their families and make their money. But don’t come calling to the Hall of Fame and say ‘I’m supposed to be in the Hall of Fame’ when you know you cheated.”
For years, Thomas has taken a hard stance against PED users and has often spoken out about keeping them out of the Hall of Fame. But now, thanks to the inclusion of Bagwell and Rodriguez, Thomas has changed his mentality.
“Now some guys are getting passes and some guys are not. It’s wrong,” Thomas said. “If you’re going to punish Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa and Roger Clemens, how can you let the rest of these guys get in?
“Either you let all those guys in and put them in a special wing or you clean it up and keep everybody out.”
Thomas said the Hall should even open its doors up to Pete Rose, who was given a lifetime ban for betting on baseball.
“Everybody deserves a second chance,” Thomas said of Rose. “If you’re gonna let the PED guys in, he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.”
 

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