Sports seem to be in an all-forgiving mood. Is the Baseball Hall of Fame next? And other thoughts. - The Boston Globe

Sports Appear to Embrace Forgiveness

How will fans react if next summer at Cooperstown, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, and Carlos Beltrán receive Baseball Hall of Fame plaques?

Hall of Fame Controversies Across Sports

There is curiosity about whether the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will respond if inductee Chauncey Billups goes to prison over allegations of gambling and money laundering.

O.J. Simpson was never removed from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In fact, Alan Eagleson is the only individual expelled from any of the four major North American sports Halls of Fame. Bobby Orr’s corrupt agent resigned from the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1998 just before the board planned to expel him.

Baseball's Forgiveness Culture

Currently, baseball appears to emphasize forgiveness. Consider Fenway Park’s dugout: Alex Cora, regarded as one of the Red Sox’s greatest managers, had his involvement in the 2017 Astros cheating scandal largely overlooked.

MLB suspended Cora, who was a bench coach with the Astros at the time, and Houston manager A.J. Hinch for one year. Both have since returned to managing playoff teams, and the scandal seldom arises in discussion.

Summary

Sports Halls of Fame generally show leniency toward controversy, with baseball recently exemplifying a notably forgiving approach toward figures involved in scandals.

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The Boston Globe The Boston Globe — 2025-11-07

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