David Ortiz, who was active in the Red Sox, was selected as a new member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, which includes famous players who were active in the major leagues.

On the other hand, Barry Bonds, who holds a major league record of 762 home runs in total, was also defeated this time, which was the last year to be voted.

Members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame are selected from candidates who have received at least 75% of the votes cast by reporters who have been with the Baseball Writers' Association of America for more than 10 years.



The members of this year's Hall of Fame were announced on the 25th, and Ortiz, who was mainly active as a designated hitter in the Red Sox, collected 77.9% of the votes and was selected in the first year of selection.



Ortiz from the Dominican Republic is a smasher who hit a total of 541 home runs, and played with Daisuke Matsuzaka and Koji Uehara in the Red Sox, contributing to a total of three World Series titles.

一方、選考対象10年目でことしが記者投票の資格最終年だったボンズさんは、66％の得票にとどまり落選しました。



このほかにも、ことしが資格最終年だった通算354勝のロジャー・クレメンスさん、通算216勝のカート・シリングさん、通算ホームラン609本のサミー・ソーサさんといった実績十分な時代を代表する選手たちもそろって落選し、記者投票での殿堂入りはなくなりました。



ボンズさん、クレメンスさん、ソーサさんはいずれも現役時代に禁止薬物の使用がスキャンダルとして取り沙汰されたことが、シリングさんは引退後に差別的な発言を繰り返したことが殿堂入りを逃している理由とされています。



また、ヤンキースなどで大リーグ歴代4位の通算ホームラン696本を打った一方、禁止薬物の使用で1年を超える出場停止処分を受けたことがあるアレックス・ロドリゲスさんもことし初めて殿堂入りの対象になりましたが、34.3％の得票にとどまり、落選しました。

時代委員会での殿堂入りも

アメリカ野球殿堂では記者投票のほかに時代委員会による選考があり、ボンズさんなどは今後、時代委員会で殿堂入りする可能性が残っています。



アメリカ野球殿堂は野球の歴史を1871年から1949年、1950年から1969年、1970年から1987年、1988年以降の4つに区切り、それぞれの時代ごとに殿堂入りするメンバーを時代委員会で検討しています。



去年12月に行われた時代委員会では前半の2つの時代の選考が行われてあわせて6人が殿堂入りしました。



ことし12月には1988年以降の時代について殿堂入りの選考が行われることになっていて、この時代に大リーグを代表する選手だったボンズさんやクレメンスさんなどが選ばれる可能性もあります。

議論呼ぶ「薬物問題」

For many years, the National Baseball Hall of Fame, which is the highest honor for Major League Baseball players, has been controversial about the treatment of "players suspected of using banned drugs."



The first major league doping test was conducted in 2003, when there were no penalties for use.



After that, penalties were set and the inspection became an unannounced method in 2005, but Jose Canseco, a smasher who achieved 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases for the first time in the history of the major leagues, said this year Eighty-five percent of them are using banned drugs. "



Mr. Bonds, Mr. Clements, and Mr. Sosa were treated as scandals about drug use during their active days, and although they all denied it, the truth was not clear.



The achievements of the three are perfect, but since sportsmanship and honesty are taken into consideration in addition to records and ability as a baseball player, such suspicion of drug use is a deep-rooted criticism that "is it suitable for being inducted into the Hall of Fame?" It remained a factor that kept me from being inducted into the Hall of Fame for 10 years after being selected.



On the other hand, Mr. Bonds have not been suspended from participation, and there are voices saying that they are "worthy of being inducted into the Hall of Fame" because they had already achieved outstanding results before the time when drug use was pointed out. In fact, Mr. Bonds increased the vote rate from 36.2% in the first year to 66%.



Although Bonds and his colleagues have no longer been inducted into the Hall of Fame by a press vote, numerous records have brilliantly shined and there is still the possibility of being inducted into the Hall of Fame at future era committees.



How do you handle athletes who were active in an era when regulations on prohibited drugs were not sufficient?



The discussion is likely to continue.