Additionally, it provided a forum through social media for players to brag and boast about their fame and fortune among the public. While the physical game and strategy of baseball remains unchanged, the attitude of the players has become arrogant and unfriendly. Players toady seem more concerned with their salaries and personal statistics versus their love of the game and the fans that put them in this position. Essentially they play for a payday. Additionally, the introduction of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) has eroded the integrity of the players and purity of the game. Over the past decade, exposure of players using PEDs has grown and intensified. Numerous players, including some of the stars in the game, have been directly linked to PEDs use. "The 409-page Mitchell report listed 83 players - including seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens - accused of using steroids or human growth hormone over the past 10 years," (Vass 24). .
The use of these PEDs in Major League Baseball has caused much debate, including the controversy regarding record setting events and the Hall of Fame induction. More specifically, should the players that achieved records while using PEDS be allowed to retain those records and/or should they be allowed for induction into the Hall of Fame. Essentially they cheated according to the MLB bylaws, yet not everyone is in agreement to remove their names from the record list. Sadly, there is no definitive resolution to the problem. In seems unfair that a person who followed the rules and worked hard is rewarded less than the athlete who cheated. Opinions among fans, players, alumni and current Hall of Fame players are varied and remain unresolved. Notoriously outspoken Hall of Fame player, Reggie Jackson said, "If any of those guys get in, no Hall of Famer will attend," (Taylor 114-120). In my opinion as a current baseball player, I feel that any player who has been caught using PEDs to gain an unfair physical advantage over their fellow players, should not be allowed to hold a record or be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
