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Craig Biggio offered a Hall-0f-Fame endorsement for Barry Bonds and his friend Roger Clemens.
“Barry Bonds was the greatest hitter I’ve ever played against, the greatest player I ever played against,” Biggio said. “I loved Barry when he was with Pittsburgh. In those Pittsburgh days, those young days, you talk about a left-handed fielder that could go to the line, field the ball and throw a one-hop strike to second base and keep guys from getting a double.
“Barry was the guy that (teams would say) ‘Don’t let him beat you at the end of the game.’ Roger was one of the greatest pitchers of all time. I did my thing too. We’ll see what happens.”
Biggio, Clemens, Bonds and Mike Piazza were among the biggest names in their first year on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. Biggio was the top vote recipient on the 2013 ballot with 68.2 percent, but no candidate received the 75 percent needed for induction.
Clemens, who won 354 games and a record seven Cy Young Awards over his 24-year career, received 37.6 percent (214 votes). Bonds, the all-time home run hitter, received 36.2 percent (206 votes). Bonds has admitted using performance-enhancing drugs, although he said he didn’t know the clear and cream were PEDs. Clearly some voters held the Mitchell Report accusations against Clemens. Clemens has steadfastly denied his former trainer’s accusations, but he admitted that he wasn’t surprised Wednesday by the snub.
Asked if he would have voted for Bonds or Clemens if he had a vote, Biggio didn’t hesitate.
“I would have. Yes,” he said. “I think that those guys are all Hall of Fame players. There’s no doubt about it. Barry and Roger, their numbers speak for themselves. And what they did on the baseball field speak for themselves.”
Craig Biggio offered a Hall-0f-Fame endorsement for Barry Bonds and his friend Roger Clemens.
“Barry Bonds was the greatest hitter I’ve ever played against, the greatest player I ever played against,” Biggio said. “I loved Barry when he was with Pittsburgh. In those Pittsburgh days, those young days, you talk about a left-handed fielder that could go to the line, field the ball and throw a one-hop strike to second base and keep guys from getting a double.
“Barry was the guy that (teams would say) ‘Don’t let him beat you at the end of the game.’ Roger was one of the greatest pitchers of all time. I did my thing too. We’ll see what happens.”
Biggio, Clemens, Bonds and Mike Piazza were among the biggest names in their first year on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot. Biggio was the top vote recipient on the 2013 ballot with 68.2 percent, but no candidate received the 75 percent needed for induction.
Clemens, who won 354 games and a record seven Cy Young Awards over his 24-year career, received 37.6 percent (214 votes). Bonds, the all-time home run hitter, received 36.2 percent (206 votes). Bonds has admitted using performance-enhancing drugs, although he said he didn’t know the clear and cream were PEDs. Clearly some voters held the Mitchell Report accusations against Clemens. Clemens has steadfastly denied his former trainer’s accusations, but he admitted that he wasn’t surprised Wednesday by the snub.
Asked if he would have voted for Bonds or Clemens if he had a vote, Biggio didn’t hesitate.
“I would have. Yes,” he said. “I think that those guys are all Hall of Fame players. There’s no doubt about it. Barry and Roger, their numbers speak for themselves. And what they did on the baseball field speak for themselves.”
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