Reggie Jackson says A-Rod's records are 'clouded' by PED use

New York Yankees' great Reggie Jackson sounds like he has a warning for Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens or any other players linked to steroids and will be on the ballot for the Hall of Fame next year— don't expect to make it to Cooperstown in the near future.

If Mark McGuire is any indication— Bonds, Clemens and any other players associated with PEDs will not make the cut and, if they do get into the Hall of Fame, Mr. October won't be there to welcome them.

"If any of those guys get in, no Hall of Famer will attend," Jackson told Sports Illustrated.

That list of players with their names tainted by PEDs and headed towards a Hall of Fame ballot will probably one day include Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez— who passed Jackson on the all-time home run list.

"Al's a very good friend, but I think there are real questions about his numbers," Jackson said.  "As much as I like him, what he admitted about his usage does cloud some of his records."

Rodriguez admitted in 2009 to using PEDs earlier in his career.

It's sounds like a complete 180-turn from what Jackson told USA Today last month.  He said Clemens deserved to be in the Hall of Fame after he won his perjury case.

While Jackson— who still works for the Yankees organization as a special adviser— ripped A-Rod's numbers as not being legit, he said he might make an exception for Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte— who also admitted using PEDs.

"The question is going to be a guy like Andy Pettitte, who admitted  that he got involved for a while, but who is so universally respected in the game," said Jackson.  "I think he'll get in, but there will be a lot of [members] who won't go."

Asked if Pettitte was inducted, would he attend?

"I've know Andy since he was 20," he said.  "I'll leave it there."

The former A's, Angels and Yankees slugger didn't hold back when it came to a number of players recently inducted into Cooperstown who he feels are undeserving of the honor.

"I didn't see Kirby Puckett as a Hall of Famer," Jackson told Sports Illustrated.  "I didn't see Gary Carter as a Hall of Famer.  I didn't see Don Sutton as a Hall of Famer.  I didn't see Phil Niekro as a Hall of Famer.  As much as I like Jim Rice, I'm not sure he's a Hall of Famer.

Jackson once claimed he was the straw that stirred the drink when he was with the Yankees during the turbulent '70's.  It looks like he's shaking things up these days.

Joe Torre: Clemens belongs in Hall of Fame

Joe Torre believes that Roger Clemens— who was acquitted on accusations of lying to Congress during a 2008 session on performance enhancing drugs— belongs in the Hall of Fame even though the seven-time Cy Young Award winner has been connected to PEDs.

At Sunday's Old-Timer's Game at Yankee Stadium Torre claims Clemens was like a son to him and said he was in Clemens' camp on the subject of whether or not his former player was Hall of Fame worthy.

"He is to me," the former Yankees manager said.  "I can't make other people look a him.  I can just tell you the way I feel about it.  I was proud to have him play for me.  He always gave you everything he had and I always respected that."

Clemens played for six seasons in New York for Torre and helped the Yankees win World Series Championships in 1999 and 2000 before being linked to performance enhancing drugs in 2007— when he was mentioned in the Mitchell Report.  Clemens denied any connection to steroids and human growth hormone at the televised 2008 hearing.

Torre— who is now executive vice president for baseball operations for MLB—  said he understands that people will now evaluate the 354-game winner's career with the cloud of PEDs surrounding Clemens' achievements.

"It's sad for me," Torre said.  "Because Roger Clemens in the way he went about his business— and I disliked him like everyone else until I got a chance to know him— he was a great teammate for these guys and he was very devoted to the team he was playing on and I always respected that."

This winter, Clemens will make his first appearance on the Hall of Fame ballot along with Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa— two other big names associated to steroids.