Steroids and Baseball

[qstor]

This latest episode has me thinking this has gone on for a LONG time. I bet Mark McGuire was taking steriods back when he racked up all those home runs. And was taking steriods too just like Jose Canseco. And to think all Babe Ruth, Ted Williams and Mickey Mantle had were plently of beer and whiskey, a little bit exercise for Ruth and Mantle, and hot dogs for the Babe.

Mike

 

[GlassJaw]

While I'm no Giambi or Bonds fan, I'm more upset at MLB than the players. Sure, the players were stupid but MLB turned a blind eye to this issue. It's painfully obvious that the best players in the game were using steroids. Just look at the HR production. But MLB loved it. Now we are seeing the fallout. MLB and the player's union (which is THE most powerful union in the country) need to get bashed over the head before they deal with a problem. It really hurts the game. I really hope Bonds doesn't break Hank Aaron's record but I think that's inevitable. :\

 

[drothgery]

Of the big power hitters in recent years, I'd have to think McGwire's probably the best bet for not being on steroids (either that, or he was on them before he got in the majors); he's one of the few that didn't suddenly become a much better power hitter. If you look at McGwire's power numbers from early in his career, it was pretty clear that if he stayed mostly healthy for a year, he'd make a run at Marris' record. Of course, his long history of health problems (his 58, 66, and 70 homerun years are the only season he played more than 145 games, I think) is probably a point in favor ih him always being on something.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

I wonder about McGwire. I have a feeling that he may have avoided the stuff. He admitted to taking that other "nutritional supplement" (androstatin I think?) which was not illegal at the time. It did cast a bit of a shadow on his recoed, but not much. The reason he came out and admitted to taking it IIRC was that some health concerns had turned up over the product and he stopped using it and wanted kids to know that it was dangerous. The health risks of the hard stuff are well known, so I suspect he may have avoided them.

Of course it could be that I just have some need to believe that somebody out there was able to perform without using the illegal crap