Bonds, Clemens miss out on Hall despite increase in votes
Members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America weren't ready to grant Barry Bonds or Roger Clemens entrance into the Hall of Fame just yet.
The two embattled athletes have been embroiled in controversy surrounding the use of performance-enhancing drugs since their playing days, which has impeded their path to the fabled Cooperstown, N.Y., institution.
Though Bonds and Clemens saw a positive swing in their voting percentages this time around, they still fell short of the required 75 percent of votes required, finishing at 53.8 and 54.1 percent, respectively.
Bonds, Clemens voting percentages since 2013:
| Year | Bonds % | Clemens % |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 53.8 | 54.1 |
| 2016 | 44.3 | 45.2 |
| 2015 | 36.8 | 37.5 |
| 2014 | 34.7 | 35.4 |
| 2013 | 36.2 | 37.6 |
Bonds is arguably one of the game's greatest hitters of all time. The former outfielder is the all-time leader in home runs and walks with 762 and 2558, respectively, and owns a career .298/.444/.607 (1.051 OPS) slash line. Voters are hesitant to commemorate MLB's home run king, however, thanks to his part in baseball's controversial steroids scandal.
Though he was never formally suspended for PED use, Bonds was indicted in 2007 for allegedly lying to a grand jury during the U.S. government's investigation into BALCO, the American company reported to have supplied former big leaguers with PEDs, including Bonds. Those charges, however, were later dropped by officials.
Clemens, meanwhile, is one of the game's most formidable pitchers ever. The 24-year veteran was a seven-time Cy Young winner, even managing to win the AL MVP award in 1986, a rare feat for a pitcher. Though he testified under oath he never took steroids, his name was mentioned often in the Mitchell Report, an investigation into the use of PEDs in MLB published in 2007.