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

Sports Seem to Be in an All-Forgiving Mood

How will we feel if next summer at Cooperstown, Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, and Carlos Beltrán stand on stage holding Hall of Fame plaques?

Meanwhile, questions arise about the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and whether it will take action if Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups is convicted for his alleged involvement in a gambling and money laundering scheme.

Hall of Fame Expulsions Are Rare

Simpson was never removed from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. To date, Alan Eagleson appears to be the only individual expelled from any of the four major sports Halls of Fame.

Bobby Orr’s corrupt agent resigned from the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1998, just before the board prepared to expel him.

Baseball’s Atmosphere of Forgiveness

At present, baseball seems focused on forgiveness. For example, Alex Cora, considered one of the greatest managers in Red Sox history, appears to have moved past his involvement in the 2017 Astros cheating scandal.

Major League Baseball suspended Cora (then a bench coach with the Astros) and Houston manager A.J. Hinch for one year, yet both have returned to dugouts with playoff teams, and the issue is rarely discussed now.

"Alex Cora is one of the great managers in Red Sox history and his unfortunate role in the 2017 Astros’ cheating scandal seems to have gone away."

These developments raise questions about the consistency and standards applied by sports Halls of Fame regarding ethical breaches and misconduct.

Author’s summary: Sports institutions increasingly show leniency toward past controversies, reflecting a shift towards forgiveness rather than strict punishment.

The Boston Globe — 2025-11-07