Steroids Effects on baseball and the Players

Steroids have become prevalent in baseball, with more players getting involved with them. Although they entered the game through trainer Curtis Wenzlaff in 1992, they have become a big part of the Major League today in 2014. However, players and the game's image suffer when they become caught up in steroids. Some of the best players to ever play the game, including Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, and Mark McGwire, have been caught up in steroids. These players are supposed to be role models for younger kids, yet when they see their idols using steroids, they are tempted to use them as well. Steroid users damage their own well-being and the image of the sport. Baseball players who decide to use anabolic steroids are affecting themselves just as much as the game of baseball itself. One way steroids affect players is the effect on the mind and mental health of users. When baseball players take steroids, they put their bodies at risk. The risks include psychiatric symptoms such as bipolar disorder (Mitchell 55). Studies have shown that if baseball players get involved with steroids, there is a strong chance they will experience symptoms like bipolar disorder or severe depression. Steroids also affect the cardiovascular system, causing heart attacks and increased or decreased cholesterol levels, and can cause the heart to become enlarged (Mitchell 55). The liver is also affected by steroids, as it can become impaired, become cancerous, and cause skin to yellow (Mitchell 55). The Mitchell report highlights the illegal use of steroids and other performance-enhancing substances by players in Major League Baseball (Mitchell). The report shows that baseball was slow to react to players' steroid use (ESPN). Steroids in baseball have become a significant issue that needs to be addressed to protect the players and the game itself.