Steroid users in the Hall of Fame starts with Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens

Frank Thomas and Mo Vaughn joined the On The Mark podcast and discussed whether Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens belong in Cooperstown.

Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens are edging up in the voting to be enshrined into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Mo Vaughn, who played with Clemens in Boston, wants to see his former teammate get the nod.

“One of my best friends in the game is Roger Clemens,” Vaughn said. “His numbers had him in the Hall of Fame before he ever decided to do whatever he did. Barry Bonds, 400 home runs and 400 steals, before he decided to do what he did. Get these guys in the Hall of Fame, they are some of the best ever. Lets get past this.”

Frank Thomas has been adamant in the past that he does not want to see PED users join him in the Hall of Fame. Thomas seems to be — at least a little — more open to the idea now.

“Its hard to hold them out,” Thomas acknowledged. “You really don’t know at this point who was true and who was not true. But, like he (Mo) said, If Bonds and Clemens are not in, I don’t want to see anybody else in. It starts with those two guys, they gotta get in first, and then you open up the conversation how do we handle this thing?”

Thomas and Vaughn also commented on the lack of African-American players, less than eight percent, playing in the Majors right now. They both have hopes and ideas on how to improve the numbers.

“For me its preaching longevity, staying healthy, playing baseball is great,” Thomas said. “You look at the numbers out there right now, that should encourage any young African-American kid to want to achieve those goals. Baseball, growing up, was like a third sport for me. We all in the ghetto played basketball and football, but when I got my sights on baseball, I enjoyed it. I hated people to say it was boring, cause its not boring. You gotta go out and experience it first, and the first thing I think is to get these kids out there to experience it.”

Vaughn also touched on the health aspect of playing baseball and the challenge to get the athletic glory a little later on the journey.

“I lived in Florida and football is the first sport,” Vaughn said. “But I think with this concussion protocol, we are going to see more of the Afro-American players playing just based on head injuries. The game is a great game. You get the fanfare when you are suppose to get it, when you are in the big leagues. Our game can never compete with the NCAA tournament at that age, we can never compete with the football playoffs at that age. You only get the fanfare when you get to the show. But, getting to the show, it’s the best. You have to be willing to go into the bushes when it is hot, grueling, tough, tired, sweaty and do the job.”

You can hear The Big Hurt and The Hit Dog on the On The Mark podcast here.

Here is the complete rundown:

On this episode of On the Mark, Mark Carman (@thecarm) and Ashley Young (@young_ashleye) recap their *first* UFC experience alongside Alex Savas (@alexsavas) from FanSided MMA. (00:00-9:45)

Frank Thomas and Mo Vaughn join the podcast to talk about their long friendship, the shift, and their differing opinions on PEDs and the Hall of Fame. (9:45-21:15)

As the World Cup begins, Mia Hamm breaks down the USMNT and USWNT debate, pay equality and what she likes about this year’s national team. (21:15-30:30)

From the White Sox, shortstop Tim Anderson chats with Mark about being a modern Jackie Robinson and “breaking the fun barrier.” Teammate Lucas Giolito follows and shares his journey from worst to All-Star contender. (30:40-51:50)

Always a treat, Ethan Blumenthal joins the podcast to debate: is the Carm Commute a reckless activity or is Mark just a premiere athlete? Plus, Kawhi and *that* pizza topping. (spoiler: it’s bull penis.) (52:00-1:01:35)

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