Mickey Morandini believes Sosa, Bonds and Clemens belong in Hall of Fame

Mickey Morandini played with Sammy Sosa for two years. He does not have a Hall of Fame vote, but if he did it would have Sosa’s name on it.

Mickey Morandini was an old school second baseman who played right in the middle of baseball’s steroid era. He bashed a career-high eight home runs 1998 while playing alongside Sammy Sosa and the Cubs during Sosa’s famous home run chase versus Mark McGwire.

Morandini went about his business the “right way” during a time when baseball was looking the other way when it came to performance-enhancing drugs. The sport is still coming to grips with whether the best players of that era belong in baseball’s Hall of Fame. Morandini says yes.

“Barry Bonds is the best player I’ve ever seen play in my time,” Morandini said. “Just the things he did on the field were incredible. They say you should make the Hall of Fame if you changed your era somehow, you had an impact, and Sammy [Sosa] had one of the biggest impacts in the ’90s of anybody. Another one is Roger Clemens. You win seven Cy Youngs and 300 wins, these guys deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. No doubt about it.”

Many players who are in the Hall of Fame do not agree along with writers who want to preserve the honor of the sport. You cheated, you are out. Morandini understands that side too.

“They have a point, and to an extent I agree with them because I did it right,” Morandini said. “I should have had a couple of Gold Gloves that I didn’t win. Is it because of steroids? I don’t know, maybe, maybe some of the guys that won ’em did it, I don’t know.”

Craig Biggio won four consecutive Gold Glove awards while Morandini was in his prime from 1993-1997 with the Phillies. Morandini then spent the next two years with the Cubs.

Chicago was a special place for Morandini, who loved playing day games while living at home in Valparaiso, Indiana with his wife and two kids. He also enjoyed his time around Sosa.

“He [Sosa] was a pleasure,” Morandini said. “He was a great teammate and I’ve never seen anyone enjoy playing the game like he did. He just loved to play the game — you know how he would run out to right field and salute all the fans in the bleachers, always had a smile on his face, always laughing and enjoying himself. I thought he was a great teammate for two years, I really did.”

Sosa won the MVP award for the only time of his career in 1998. Morandini got his only MVP vote finishing in 24th place.

“I’m proud of that. I had a great year that year,” Morandini said. “I am going to be honest with you, and I’m not bragging, I was a big part of why we went to the playoffs . Sammy and Gracie (Mark Grace) were the two heads of that team. I played really really well and I’m proud of that.”

Morandini was just behind Sosa and Grace in many key categories, finishing third on the team in batting average, hits, and walks. He finished tied with Sosa for fourth place with 20 doubles.

To listen to the entire Morandini interview, check out Da Windy City Podcast.