The "Steriod Era." That is how our sliver of baseball history will be remembered for the middle aged members of the Zoo. Not the strike, or the cancelation of the World Series. Not the breaking of Hank Aaron's home run record, or the breaking of Roger Maris's record, twice. Or perhaps the greatest power hitter and pitcher of all time. None of this will be remembered, except for the way it was achived: through cheating.
Canseco, McGuire, Sosa, Palmero, Tejada, Rodriguez(Ivan), Sheffeild, Tejada, Roberts, Giambi, Gonzalez(Juan), Ordonez, and ultimetly Bonds and Rodriguez(Alex). The above are some of the most reconizalble and popular hitters, not to mention the best in baseball, in all of Major League Baseball. Along with that, they all have confesed or been acused of using either steriods or HGH.
While not as many picthers have been accused of "juicing," some of the best in the last several years such as Paul Byrd, Andy Pettite, Rafeal Betancourt, and of course, Roger Clemens have been recently exposed as users.
So what? Why does it matter?
Between the hitters I mentioned, there are 5, 662 Home Runs, 27, 375 Hits, 5,195 Doubles, two Rookie of the Year Awards, eight-teen Most Valuable Player Awards, eight ESPY Awards, nine Silver Sluggers, the Single Season Home Run Record, the All-Time home run record, and millions upon millions of dollars. Now take all of that, and stick it with a big, fat *.
How many games were won becuase of steriods? How many World Series? How many clean players lost an entire season becuase some "juicers" cheated and beat them in the Fall Classic?
Between the pitchers mentioned above there are 678 Wins, Seven Cy Young Awards, and One Most Valuable Player, mainly belonging to Clemens.
The Users
Mark McGuire:
Possibly the biggest name in sports if you travel back to the '90s. 583 Home Runs, including a 70 Homer season, had McGuire a lock for Cooperstown untill it became evident he had used several steriods inclduing Winstrol, Testosterone, and Equipose as well as Andro. Curtis Wenzlaff reportedly supplied McGuire with the steriods.
Jose Canseco:
The "Godfather of Steriods." Jose was on, well everything. Deca-D, Winstrol, Equipose, Anvar, and HGH. They allowed him to change from, as David Wells described it, a "little kid into a monster with tree trunks for legs." Canseco would become the first player to hit 40 home runs and steal 40 bases in one season, I wonder why.
Jason Giambi:
Giambi is a classic case of too many steriods. In Canseco's case, he used them properly and saw results. Giambi used them in a way that made him a home run or bust-much like his current season, wink wink. The Clear, The Cream, Deca-D, Testostrone, and HGH all sat in Giambi's medicine cabnite. Giambi, while a cheater, does deserve a sliver of credit. He was the only BALCO grand jury testifi to admit to using drugs, while McGuire, Bonds, Sheffiled, Sosa, and Palmero all denied it. They all later tested positive for drugs.
Rafael Palmero
Palmero is a member of the 3,000 hit club and at one time was, well, a national hero. During the BALCO trial, he looked into the camera and stared at millions of poepledefiantly saying that he never took steriods. He tested positive a month later.
Barry Bonds
Bonds atmited to "unknowingly" taking the Clear and Cream. He is probably the most hated man in baseball, but owns the single season and all time home run record. Bonds is involved in the BALCO scandal.
Roger Clemens
If Seven Cy Youngs and 350+ wins doesn't get you into the Hall, something is up. Clemens might see just that happen since his name was mentioned in The Mitchell Report.
Others Noteables:
Ivan Rodriguez, Garry Sheffeild, Miguel Tejada, Sammy Sosa. Alex Rodriguez is mentioned in Canseco's second book, for now, I won't count him as a user.
1990 Anabolic Steriod Control Act
A similar act to the 1988 Anti-Drug Act. This promised strict punishment, including jail time, for anybody using anabolic steriods without a perscription.
Operation Equine(1992)
The FBI discovers steriods are being used not only in baseball, but in all major sports.
Randy Smith Interview(1995)
Padres Ganeral Maneger Randy Smith infoms the Los Angeles Times that "steriod use is wide spread in baseball and everyone knows about it."
Mark McGuire Busted
During the 1998 season, a reporter find Andro, a steriod, in Mark McGuire's locker. The story quickly goes away.
The Manny Alexander Bust(2000)
A batboy, while driving Alexander's car, gets pulled over. Steriods are found in the car, but he wasn't charged.
Steve Belchler Dies(2003)
23 Year Old Orioles pitcher Steve Belchler collapses on the field right before spring training begins. The cause of death was heat exuastion, officailly, however steriods were found in his system later.
BALCO(2005)
The Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative, owned by Victor Conte, supplied steriods to several athletes, including Barry Bonds. A grand jury is called together as Mark McGuire, Gary Sheffield, Jason Giambi, and Barry Bonds along with tohers testify. Giambi admits to use while everyone else denys or shys away from the topic.
Juiced Published(2005)
Jose Canseco publishes his first book, Juiced, stating several names such as Mark McGuire and Jason Giambi withen it.
Game of Shadows Published(2006)
Bonds finally is exposed with actual evidence. BALCO is further exposed as well.
Jason Grimsly Busted(2006)
The FBI raids Jason Grimsly's home, finding personal packages of steriods. He names names, and it becuase evident pitchers are using steriods as long as hitters.
Mitchell Report
The Mitchell Report is published, naming around 80 players. Bud Selig promises a clean game.
Will Baseball clean up? Or is it doomed to the 90's and 00's fate?
Chiefsfan123888 is an underestimated sports genius. He knows a ton about sports, and enjoys
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