Sporting News: Baseball Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson talks character clause, PED users and ballot changes

SN: Why is character so central to the Baseball Hall of Fame, in your view?
JI: Probably because we’re such a big part of American culture and history, and character matters in our country. And baseball is a reflection of our country.
Life is full of opinions, and you can determine character however you like. Everyone has a different opinion of how character should be evaluated. The point of that guideline is to ensure that those who are being considered for election didn’t disgrace the game.
SN: Does the character clause, in your opinion, only apply to players’ respective playing careers or should the character clause extend to anything in their lives, even outside of baseball and after they played?
JI: The voters can define it as they wish.