Increase In Popularity For Bonds Recalls Other Players Who Have Grown More Likable After Retirement

Most of the baseball world is looking forward to not only the start of Spring Training next month, but also the World Baseball Classic. Before those two events, however, fans will be paying close attention to the another annual highlight, the Hall of Fame selections.

This year’s ballot is loaded with stars, none of which appears to be a shoo in. Unlike last year, when Ken Griffey, Junior and Mike Piazza were obvious choices, the best players eligible this year are borderline picks.

First baseman Jeff Bagwell and outfielder Tim Raines are considered the most likely to gain induction, along with several players with impressive statistics but questionable reputations. The most noteworthy of all is the most dominant player of his era, who has so far fallen short of the votes needed for induction.

The all time home run king and seven time Most Valuable Player, Barry Bonds, appears to be gaining in consideration for Cooperstown. His life after baseball has remained free of scandal, and last year he enjoyed a job as hitting instructor for the Miami Marlins. Even though manager Don Mattingly dismissed him after the season, Bonds accepted the decision without controversy.

Other players have managed to become more popular after retirement than they were when they were on the diamond. Many of them have become more likable as broadcasters, some through charity work, and some through other means.

Alex Rodriguez, who has spent much of his career amid controversy, has become more endearing to fans over the past two seasons. His work as an analyst in the 2015 and 2016 post seasons has allowed A-Rod to serve as a modern counterpart to Pete Rose, the all-time hit leader who is serving a lifetime ban from baseball.

Less well-known as a player is Kevin Millar, a veteran of four teams in a dozen big league seasons. He did not quite have enough pop to compensate for his.223 career batting average to earn him even a single All-Star selection, but his popularity has soared as a co-host of Intentional Talk on the MLB channel.

Darryl Strawberry was a very talented outfielder who spent much of his career in controversy, including law suits about child support as well as a 1995 arrest for prostitution and drug possession. After retiring from the game, however, Strawberry became a born again Christian with appearances on The 700 Club and noteworthy charitable work.

Another controversial slugger has experienced some redemption since he retired, highlighted by a best-selling book. Former Most Valuable Player Jose Canseco published Juiced, an account that forced Major League Baseball to address a serious problem that the game had been ignoring for over a decade.

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