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The Rise and Fall of PEDs in the MLB

Some of League’s Best Hitters Played Long Before the Steroid Era.

Hitters such as Babe Ruth (Pictured Above), Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle,

etc.

Steroid Era

Early 1990s-Mid 2000s

Career & Season Home Run Records were broken by Barry Bonds.

Nearly all of the great Home Run hitters of the time have either been implicated or tested positive for PED use.

To better understand how much the MLB has improved in terms of PED use we must examine when it was at it’s worst.

In 2002, former National League Most Valuable Player Ken Caminiti estimated that “at least half” of major league players were using anabolic steroids (Mitchell Report).

BALCO Scandal

BALCO was a clinic that supplied a steroid concoction to many MLB players.

At the trial following the scandal Barry Bonds (Career HR Record Holder) admitted to use of steroids.

Juiced & Game of Shadows

Juiced- Tell-all book by former MLB player, Jose Canseco; Published in 2005.

Game of Shadows-Published in 2006.

Both books further tarnished MLB’s integrity and named alleged users.

Mitchell Report

409-page reported ordered by MLB Commissioner Bud Selig.

Report was written following a 21-month investigation.

89 MLB players were implicated in the report.

Most notably, Roger Clemens (pictured).

Notable PED Users

Barry Bonds (amphetamines; BALCO, Juiced)

Mark McGwire (Steroids; Juiced)

Alex Rodriguez (Steroids; drug test)

Roger Clemens (Steroids, HGH; Mitchell Report)

Sammy Sosa (unknown; drug test)

Jason Giambi (HGH; BALCO, admitted user)

Rafael Palmiero (Steroids; Juiced)

Manny Ramirez (fertility drug; drug test)

Eric Gagne (HGH; Mitchell Report)

Jose Canseco (HGH; admitted user)

PEDs in Baseball Today

PEDs Today

Ryan Braun, one of the league’s budding young stars, was suspended 50 games for testing positive for a PED in October 2011. He appealed the suspension and eventually won.

In early 2013, multiple MLB players, including Alex Rodriguez, were linked to a Miami area clinic allegedly supplying PEDs. So far no suspensions have been given.

Signs PED Use is on the Decline

2005-2007: 18 MLB players tested positive for PEDs

2008-2010: 9 MLB players tested positive for PEDs

Since 2010: No failed drug tests

Only 5 MLB players have been implicated in the Miami Clinic Scandal. Thus the largest number of players implicated since the 2007 Mitchell Report.

Causes For Decline

Increase in drug testing

Improvements in drug testing (less PEDs undetectable)

Stigma

Stigma

Known users are labeled as “cheaters” and are condemned by the baseball community

Many notable players associated with PEDs have been denied access to the Hall of Fame

Players Denied Entrance to HOF

Barry Bonds (Career & Single Season HR Record holder, 7-time NL MVP)

Mark McGwire (10th in Career HRs, 7-time All-Star, Rookie of the Year)

Roger Clemens (7-time Cy Young, AL MVP, 11-time All-Star)

Sammy Sosa (8th in Career HRs, NL MVP)

6 of the top 15 Career HR hitters have been linked to PEDs. So far none of have been admitted to the Hall of Fame.http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/HR_career.shtml

Future of MLB is Bright

Legendary Players such as Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth and others have shown young players that the extraordinary is possible without PEDs.

Stigma is as high as ever.

Strict no-tolerance for admittance to HOF.

Increases in testing.

All these factors contribute to a cleaner game in the future.

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