A-Rod Reflects on Hall of Fame Regret as Sammy Sosa Makes Strong Case After Pete Rose News

Alex Rodriguez was a phenomenon on the plate with 696 homers, three MVP trophies, and a World Series title. Even off the plate, his estimated net worth is around $350 million. So, he has done it all! But there’s a sting that he still carries. Of not being in Cooperstown. He still gets a warm welcome every time he shows up, but Cooperstown hasn’t called yet. Why?

Well, because of his past mistakes. Remember Rodriguez’s PED suspension? But hey, we recently saw MLB lifting lifetime ban on Pete Rose, didn’t we? Is that a ray of hope for A-Rod? In a candid conversation on WFAN, he opened up! When asked if it bothers him that he is not in the Hall of Fame, Rodriguez’s answer was direct.

“It bothers me. I want to be in the Hall of Fame. Of course. How can I not want to be in the Hall of Fame?” he said. No sugarcoating, no diplomatic answer, just truth. But deep down, he knows why he is not on that list. “Because of my mistakes, I may not end up in the hall of fame,” he further added.

A-Rod was banned for the entire 2014 MLB season due to his role in the Biogenesis scandal, the longest non-lifetime suspension in league history. He admitted to using substances while with the Texas Rangers from 2001 to 2003.

He is now well aware there’s no going back. He mentioned, “But baseball is tough, right? It’s a lifetime sentence. I got to do my time and live it forever.”  While A-Rod might have moved on, Sammy Sosa has finally spoken out after years.

He shared his thoughts on MLB’s decision to lift the ban on Pete Rose. Sosa said, “The door in the future is still early, but I believe if he gets into the Hall of Fame… The rest of us, including myself, Barry Bonds, Robert Clemens, and others, are there… There is still hope.” A plea!

Sosa tested positive for PED in 2003, a charge he denied. While the Cubs will soon induct him into their own Hall of Fame, Cooperstown voters are still holding on.

Cooperstown’s cold shoulder: How voters are still shutting out A‑Rod and Sosa

Despite having three MVP awards, Alex Rodriguez has never received more than 37.1% of the vote for Cooperstown. He failed to meet the 75% Cooperstown criteria on the 2025 BBWAA ballot. He was fourth among contenders with 146 of 394 votes and while he remained on the list, he was far from induction. For now, A-Rod is in Hall of Fame purgatory.

Sammy Sosa’s tale, on the other side, is different. After ten years on the BBWAA ballot, he only received 18.5% in 2022. His three seasons with 60 or more home runs and 1998 MVP season couldn’t erase the PED blot.

While A-Rod’s percentage has steadily increased, from 34% to 37.1%, Sosa never had enough support. His highest vote count was 13.9% in 2020, 17% in 2021, and 18.5% in 2022. He never approached 75%.

So, A-Rod might still have a chance. But Sosa has been dropped from ballots, stuck at under 20%, and is now dependent on the committee to make a decision. Can these two get inducted into Hall of Fame at any point? What do you think?