Steroids Use in Major League Baseball (MLB): Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds

1591 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Managing performance enhancing drugs in athletics sport

Steroids in baseball, particularly in Major League Baseball (MLB), have become a major issue. Two specific athletes have affected Major league Baseball dramatically; these players are Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds. It is hard to catch a steroid user. Don Catlin, a former director at the UCLA Olympic testing lab says time after time they try to find the users and test them method, after they have evidence, however, this method does not work (Quinn). Mark McGwire’s and Barry Bonds’ use of steroids affected baseball in terms of trust issues, record holders, drug policies, and the future of baseball.

An easy way to try to get out of being caught using steroids is to lie. Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire both lied on many occasions. This is the spark that started debate of steroid use being legal. George Mitchell, a United States senator believe that any one that has played a part in baseball throughout the last two preceding decades have responsibility in the era of steroids (Kuenster). Not only are the lies of using steroids of the players known, but people do not believe them. Chicago Tribune sports writer Rick Morrissey states, “Many of us [baseball spectators] don’t believe in the things we’ve seen in baseball players do over the past 10 years. We know that kind of strength [the strength that steroids give players] doesn’t occur that quickly, that dramatically” (qtd. in Verducci). Barry Bonds was so confident about his lies that he told federal prosecutors to prove that he is guilty, that he would like to see them do it (Henry). He denied the use of steroids repeatedly or at least he did so in the public’s eye. It is not just Bonds that uses steroids however, many other players do. Jeff Novitzky, a federal investigator, stated th...

... middle of paper ...

...19. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 11 Dec. 2013.

McGrath, Ben. “King of Walks.” New Yorker. 87.6 (2011): 52. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 11 Dec. 2013.

“McGwire Strikes Out!.” Current Science 84.14 (1999): 8. MAS Ultra-School Edition. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.

Nemec, David, and Saul Wisnia. 100 Years of Baseball. Lincolonwood, Ill.: Publications International, 2002, Print.

Price, S.L. “The Liars Club.” Sports Illustrated 103.25 (2005): 110. MAS Ultra-School Edition. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.

Quinn, T.J. “Baseball’s Steroid Era.” Mens Fitness 23.6 (2007): MAS Ultra-School Edition. Web. 11 Nov. 2013.

“Socher, Abraham. “No Game For Old Men (Cover Story).”Commentary 125.3 (2008): 55-58. Humanities International Complete. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.

Verducci, Tom. “Is Baseball In The Asterisk Era? (Cover Story).” Sports Illustrated 100.11 (2004): 36. MAS Ultra-School Edition. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.

Show More
Related

  • Aluminum Bats vs. Wooden Bats

    1765 Words  | 4 Pages

    NCAA Baseball Rules Committee. “Easton Sports’ Recent Letters.” National Collegiate Athletic Association. 4 Dec. 1998. 5 Apr. 2002 http://www.ncaa.org

    Read More

  • Book Report on Baseball: A History of America's Game by Benjamin G. Rader

    1034 Words  | 3 Pages

    Book Report on Baseball: A History of America's Game by Benjamin G. Rader In "Baseball: A History of America's Game", the Author Benjamin G. Rader discusses the history of baseball and how it developed to present day. Rader explains how baseball started as a simple game consisting of no rules besides the players using a stick to hit a ball and its constant evolution to what the game is today. He also displays several issues which America's favorite sport has had while developing into the complex sport it is today. Although baseball has had several trials and tribulations throughout its history, it still remains America's favorite pastime.

    Read More

  • Barry Bonds and Steroids

    1133 Words  | 3 Pages

    The urine samples that Major League Baseball took from Bonds have shown evidence that indicate he has used performance-enhancing drugs. “A person who has reviewed the evidence said that the authorities detected anabolic steroids in urine samples linked to Bonds that the authorities gathered in connection with their investigation” (Schmidt). This fact indicates that Major League Baseball knows that he used the steroids, but the officials are too languid to make Bonds come out and tell the truth instead of lying like he has in the past. Congress also has taken urine samples from Bonds, but has listed them and marked them as confidential evidence. Also, Barry Bonds’ body became so big in such little time....

    Read More

  • Anabolic Steroids are Ruining Major League Baseball

    1233 Words  | 3 Pages

    Major League Baseball (MLB) has widely been regarded as America’s pastime for the longest time, however it is now becoming known as the sport tainted by one thing, anabolic steroids. An anabolic steroid is related to the natural steroid, testosterone. They are able to stimulate growth in the muscle tissue. They usually increase muscle mass and strength. The MLB has created some of the most historic American icons, such as Babe Ruth and Ted Williams. Players like them showed us what it was like to play baseball the right way. They played with passion, heart, and above all they had fun playing. Players today in the MLB focus way too much on becoming the best player ever to play. They see what the greats did before them and they want to match them, so they turn to anabolic steroids. An example of this is Alex Rodriguez. In 2003 he tested positive for anabolic steroids because he was “naïve” and couldn’t take the pressure of his expectations of being called the best. He felt the pressure from the game and he turned to steroids. Anabolic steroids are ruining the game of baseball. They are tainting the records and the changing the game for the worse.

    Read More

  • Anabolic Steroid Use in Baseball

    664 Words  | 2 Pages

    Baseball?s reputation has been painted with a red asterisk. The non-medical use of steroids has been banned according to the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990. Many baseball athletes have been caught or presumed illegal users of HGH or Steroids since the act passed in 1990. All these athletes have one thing in common, they want to have an edge or advantage on the game. Some athletes even admit to administering the drug to other athletes and themselves. Jose Conseco testified to personally injecting the steroids into Mark McGuire (Cote).

    Read More

  • Best Baseball Player from 1910-1920

    842 Words  | 2 Pages

    1910 to 1920 was the one of the greatest decades for Major League Baseball. Many amazing events occurred during this decade; although, some devastating and extremely sad events also occurred. Half of these years were taken up by war, even many Hall of Fame players served. This decade still ended up being a great one for Major League Baseball. From Hall of Fame greats to Negro League pitchers, this decade produced greats. The 1910’s also set up the 1920’s for amazing players too.

    Read More

  • Cansecos Steroid Allegations

    694 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Jose Canseco’s 60 Minutes interview, he stated that he and some of his teammates used steroids in the past. With all the hoopla surrounding Major League Baseball and its connection with allegations made by BALCO president Victor Conte, this report is intriguing at the least. High profile athletes such as Jason Giambi and Barry Bonds have been under direct scrutiny over the past year because of the steroid issue. Canseco firmly states that he and former teammate Mark McGwire casually injected together during their playing days as an Oakland Athlete. “After batting practice or right before the game, Mark and I would duck into a stall in the men’s locker room, load up our syringes and inject ourselves” with steroids, starting in 1988, Canseco wrote, according to an excerpt made by the N.Y. Times. Tony Larussa, manager of the A’s at the time denies that his players ever used steroids. Supposedly, steroids give an edge to a players’ psyche as well as increased size and strength. Larussa then reiterated that McGwire got his strength and size from weightlifting and a careful diet. In a league where the most glaring aspect of the sport is the art of the homerun, it seems as if these allegations could be possibly true. Homerun king Mark McGwire has made a name for himself with hitting the long ball. He and Sammy Sosa, another alleged user has a hit an impressive amount of homeruns over the span of their careers. Canseco also called out former Texas Ranger Rangers teammates, Ivan Rodriguez, Jose Gonzalez, and Rafael Palmeiro. All the players named above are potential Hall of Famers.

    Read More

  • PED in Sports

    1628 Words  | 4 Pages

    Performance enhancing drugs have been a longstanding problem in sports. It not only deteriorates the honesty of the game, but also can have broader social affects that one may not even realize. The use of performance enhancing drugs is especially apparent in Major League Baseball. This problem can be traced back to the 1980’s when baseball was facing one of its first “dark periods”. During the 1980’s Major League Baseball was experiencing a home run drought. Home run totals were down as far as they had been since Babe Ruth, and fans were seemingly becoming bored with the sport. The lack of home runs was a growing concern for players whose salary relied on home run totals. Players needed to find a quick way to boost their power and performance in order to keep the sport alive and to keep bringing in their paychecks. This desire for fame and fortune introduced steroids into Major League Baseball in the 1990’s and 2000’s. Home run totals jumped tremendously during these decades and players were willing to risk being caught using illegal substances in order to shine above the rest. New idols and role models started to sprout up from these outstanding home run statistics and young children started to take notice. This all came tumbling down when these new idols and role models who were making the big bucks and hitting the ball out of the park tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. Here lie the affects of a growing social problem in sports. These famed athletes become walking advertisements and promotions for the use of performance enhancing drugs in sports. The influence professional athletes have over aspiring young athletes is very powerful and these roles models make it seem acceptable to use performance ...

    Read More

  • Steroids in Baseball

    1529 Words  | 4 Pages

    People frown upon steroids in baseball because they say they are an unfair advantage even though they can be used as big advantage. Steroids have always been looked down on because people say that they are unfair and unsafe to use. So far players that have used steroids in Major League baseball have been healthy and the only side effects of them have been success. Steroids have become a huge part of baseball since the 1990’s. players feel like they need to use them to stay competitive. Steroids help increase muscle mass and help athletes train harder and faster. This results in better play on the field. Most steroid users in the MLB (Major League Baseball) are pitchers and homerun hitters. Steroids need to be legalized in Major League Baseball to bring more excitement into the game so that more people will watch, it will level the playing field for all the players, it will keep athletes healthy during the long season, and it will be more efficient since the consequences for using the substance does not keep players from using them.

    Read More

  • Informative Speech About Baseball

    1121 Words  | 3 Pages

    Claim: The early years of baseball has changed dramatically over the years that have gone by.

    Read More

  • Steroids Impact on Major League Baseball

    1617 Words  | 4 Pages

    Since at least the 1980’s performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) have been a major challenge in the world of Major League Baseball, and past trends indicate they will continue to pose an ongoing problem. A number of the most prominent and accomplished professional baseball players, such as Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Jason Giambi, Roger Clemens, are also the most famous examples of baseball players who have broken longstanding records, attracted countless numbers of fans, and allegedly have taken performance-enhancing drugs. Athletes who have been caught using steroids in order to increase and better their performance rates have been suspended, fined and traded from the teams on which they once played. Despite the punitive actions taken against them by the League and lawmakers, players continue to use performance-enhancing drugs and likely will continue to do so, because the associated athletic effects will draw more fans and bring more money to the individual player and franchise.

    Read More

  • The Steroid Era

    1228 Words  | 3 Pages

    The era in sports from the late 90s and into the 2000s has often been nicknamed “The Steroid Age” due to the raging use of anabolic steroids and other PEDs (performance enhancing drugs) by professional athletes. The usage of drugs in sports has never been more prevalent during this time, and many people are making it their goal to put an end to the abuse. Influential athletes such as Lance Armstrong, Alex Rodriguez, and Roger Clemens, who were once held as the highest role models to the American people, now watch as their legacies are tarnished by accusations of drug use. The American population, and lovers of sports everywhere, have followed in astonishment through recent years as many beloved athletes reveal their dark secrets. As organizations such as the USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) and BALCO (Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative) attempt to halt the use of PEDs, both the drug users and their high-end suppliers work diligently to avoid detection. The use of performance enhancing drugs in recent years has proven to be cancerous to the honesty and competition of modern sports. Although some strides have been made over the past few decades, the use of steroids is in full swing in Major League Baseball, The dangerous side effects of the drugs are often overlooked and many do not realize the message this sends to the youth. The support for halting the usage of PEDs is in need of attention or professional sports will face the loss of all progress made through the past two decades in its war on steroids.

    Read More

  • African American Athlete: Their Role in American Culture

    3732 Words  | 8 Pages

    Tygiel, Jules. 2001; 2000. Past time: Baseball as history. Oxford England; New York: Oxford University Press.

    Read More

  • Women and Sports

    3158 Words  | 7 Pages

    Shattuck, Debra (2011). “Women’s baseball in the 1860s: Reestablishing a historical memory.” Nine,19(2), 1-26. Retrieved from http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/nine/vo19 /19.2.shattuck.html

    Read More

  • Baseball is the National Pastime

    1061 Words  | 3 Pages

    This game of a stick and ball has captivated the United States during good and bad times. In either time most of us today can remember stories of players from the late 1800’s to early 1900’s. These are legendary figures in the sport of baseball that have are celebrated as hero’s and in scandal, i...

    Read More

More about Steroids Use in Major League Baseball (MLB): Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds

Open Document