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.
