Will Barry Bonds be a first
ballot Hall of Famer?
Not according to odds makers at Sportsbook.com
NEW YORK, NY -- March 9, 2006 -- Following public
outrage over recent allegations in a new book that
claim Barry Bonds used performance enhancing drugs,
Sportsbook.com has posted odds on whether the slugger
will be elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame
on the first ballot. Odds are set at 5-7 that he
will not gain first ballot entry when he becomes
eligible five years after his retirement from the
sport.
“Being voted into the Hall of Fame is the
biggest individual honor in baseball. Being voted
in on the first ballot is what cements your place
in history as one of the greatest to ever play the
game,” said Alex Czajkowski, Sportsbook.com.
“There are likely to be many voters that will
think twice about placing Bonds in that elite company,
especially when you consider he’s never been
the most popular individual with the media.”
Most baseball pundits agree that Bonds will be
elected to the Hall of Fame at some point because
there were no rules against performance enhancing
drugs at the time he is alleged to have used them,
staring in 1998. Some also suggest he was worthy
of the Hall of Fame based on his achievements prior
to 1998. However, his best seasons clearly came
after the drug use is believed to have taken place,
including the year he broke the single-season home
run record, and that has some believing that the
Hall of Fame voters will punish Bonds by not supporting
him on the first ballot.
“Barry Bonds and performance enhancing drugs
have been the two biggest stories in baseball for
years, and now with these new allegations the scrutiny
is at an all-time high,” added Czajkowski.
“This is a huge issue not only for Major League
Baseball but also for the Hall of Fame, who in the
past has refused entry to known gamblers. Will they
refuse entry to Bonds as well? Only time will tell.”
A complete list of baseball related odds can be
viewed at www.sportsbook.com.
Will Barry Bonds be elected to Baseball’s
Hall of Fame on the first ballot?
Yes 1-1
No 5-7
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For more information, please contact:
Patrick Erlich
Sportsbook.com
sportsbook@mediaprofile.com
1.866.505.2900
