Former Minnesota Gophers and Twins great Paul Molitor knows a thing or two about the Hall of Fame, being a first-ballot Hall of Famer himself.
The 2004 inductee isn’t afraid to share his opinion on prospective members either, and with Alex Rodriguez’ alleged steroid use grabbing headlines, Molitor spoke up to the Canadian Baseball Network over the weekend.
A few of his quotes to our neighbors to the north regarding Rodriguez treatment by the league, his chance at Cooperstown and alleged drug use:
“I don’t think he was overly targeted by Major League Baseball.”
“I know that there was not a positive drug test, but there was just cause (for his suspension).”
“Regardless of where [Rodriguez’s] career was going, from the information I’ve been exposed to and from what I have read, I don’t think he will get in. But hey, Roger Clemens and Barry Bonds get roughly 30 percent of the vote.”
“No, I don’t think he belongs.”
Clemens and Bonds were also accused of steroid use, and while Rodriguez has not tested positive for performance enhancing drugs, he is still facing a season-long ban for his suspected role in breaching Major League Baseball’s substance abuse agreement.
In Molitor’s three years with the Twins at the end of his career, he hit .312, and a triple on Sept. 16 of 1996 was the 3,000th hit of his career.
He retired in 1998 and sits ninth all-time in career hits. He ranked No. 99 on Sporting News’ list of the top 100 baseball players in the history of the game.
Rodriguez continues to appeal his suspension, though reports say he is unlikely to win the challenge if it evens gets to federal court.
