However, Canseco has accused players of using steroids time and time again and he has been proven right time and time again. For whatever reason, Canseco seems totally incapable of telling the truth except when he is talking about steroid-users. I suppose that makes his claim of a “user” in the HOF credible. If he is telling the truth, then it should be pretty easy to narrow down the list of candidates to a numbered few based on the information that we have at our disposal. For instance, we know that Canseco played from 1985-2001. We know that the vast majority of players who he has “outed” have been former teammates. We also know that Canseco has almost exclusively ratted-out position players with thick frames. Using this information, the list of potential culprits shrinks to the size of Canseco’s steroid-reduced family jewels. So, let’s get to the deducing…
I am confident that the player Jose Canseco is speaking of is one of the 17 Hall of Famers who played during the 90’s::
Rickey Henderson 79-03
Cal Ripken Jr. 81-01
Tony Gwynn 82-01
Ryne Sandberg 81-94 and 96-97
Wade Boggs 82-99
Paul Molitor 78-98
Dennis Eckersley 75-98
Eddie Murray 77-97
Gary Carter 74-92
Ozzie Smith 78-96
Dave Winfield 73-88 and 90-95
Kirby Puckett 84-95
Carlton Fisk 69 and 71-93
Robin Yount 74-93
Nolan Ryan 66 and 68-93
George Brett 73-93
Goose Gossage 72-89, 91-94
As I stated earlier, Canseco likes to rat out former teammates. Juan Gonzalez, Rafael Palmeiro, Ivan Rodriguez, Mark McGwire, Jason Giambi, and Roger Clemens are examples of this. Five former teammates of Canseco are on this list. They include; Rickey Henderson, Wade Boggs, Dennis Eckersley, Goose Gossage, and Nolan Ryan. Because they had the misfortune of playing with Canseco, they warrant greater consideration.
There are a few players on the list who can probably be eliminated right away. I highly doubt that either Tony Gwynn, Ozzie Smith, or Kirby Puckett used steroids. Gwynn and Puckett were pudgy, singles-hitters. Smith was a slick fielder with no power. If any of the three used, it would’ve been Puckett since he was stocky and had more power than Gywnn and Smith. Still, Puckett’s physique certainly was not that of a typical steroid-user nor was his power.
Rickey Henderson 79-03
Cal Ripken Jr. 81-01
Ryne Sandberg 81-94 and 96-97
Wade Boggs 82-99
Paul Molitor 78-98
Dennis Eckersley 75-98
Eddie Murray 77-97
Gary Carter 74-92
Dave Winfield 73-88 and 90-95
Carlton Fisk 69 and 71-93
Robin Yount 74-93
Nolan Ryan 66 and 68-93
George Brett 73-93
Goose Gossage 72-89, 91-94
Although there have been documented cases of steroid use in MLB in the 80’s, all of the players Canseco has accused so far have played from the mid-90’s and beyond. It’s unlikely that a player who didn’t make it to the mid-90’s would be our “user.” So, that eliminates Gary Carter and Carlton Fisk—two catchers who saw their careers precipitously decline as one would expect from aging backstops. We can also eliminate George Brett and Robin Yount. All four retired in either 1992 or 1993.
Rickey Henderson 79-03
Cal Ripken Jr. 81-01
Ryne Sandberg 81-94 and 96-97
Wade Boggs 82-99
Paul Molitor 78-98
Dennis Eckersley 75-98
Eddie Murray 77-97
Dave Winfield 73-88 and 90-95
Nolan Ryan 66 and 68-93
Goose Gossage 72-89, 91-94
Both Eddie Murray and Dave Winfield entered baseball in the 70’s. By the time the mid-90’s rolled around, these guys had done their damage. Their career numbers declined heavily into the mid 90’s. If they were using steroids, it certainly wasn’t showing.
Rickey Henderson 79-03
Cal Ripken Jr. 81-01
Ryne Sandberg 81-94 and 96-97
Wade Boggs 82-99
Paul Molitor 78-98
Dennis Eckersley 75-98
Nolan Ryan 66 and 68-93
Goose Gossage 72-89, 91-94
Ryne Sandberg and Paul Molitor seem to be unlikely candidates. Neither was much of a home run threat besides a couple big-stick years by Ryno. Neither looked like they took steroids. Sandberg’s career dovetailed significantly after 1992. Molitor was the same steady singles-hitter for virtually his entire career. Cal Ripken Jr. has received some speculative ink because of his Iron Man status. The theory there is that taking steroids would’ve helped him play in 2,632 consecutive games. There are two holes in that theory: 1). Steroids increase the risk of injury and 2). Ripken was never more than an average hitter after 1991.
Rickey Henderson 79-03
Wade Boggs 82-99
Dennis Eckersley 75-98
Nolan Ryan 66 and 68-93
Goose Gossage 72-89, 91-94
At first glance, Nolan Ryan’s ability to throw 100 MPH-gas at 46 might raise some suspicions. If Roger Clemens—the closest thing we have seen to Ryan with respect to age and velocity—is any indication, then Ryan may have indeed had some pharmaceutical assistance. However, there are four factors that make it unlikely that Nolan Ryan is the culprit; 1). He was a pitcher which does not fit Canseco's expertise, 2). He retired before the steroid boon of the mid-90’s, 3). The players Canseco accused of steroid-use in Texas when he was Ryan's teammate were all Latin American. I get the impression that 46-year old Nolan Ryan wasn't hanging with Canseco, Rafael Palmeiro, Juan Gonzalez, and Pudge Rodriguez. 4). It has been 16 years since Canseco and Ryan were teammates and 10 years since Ryan was elected to the Hall of Fame. Canseco has had plenty of time to drop his “bomb” about a steroid-user in the HOF. The fact that he didn’t likely indicates that Ryan isn’t the guy. For the same reasons it appears safe to eliminate both Dennis Eckersley and Goose Gossage. Eck was a skin and bones relief pitcher. Gossage was 40 years old and barely managed 40 innings during his time with Canseco. Neither would appear to be steroid-users.
Rickey Henderson 79-03
Wade Boggs 82-99
The only two left are Rickey Henderson and Wade Boggs. Boggs only played one season with Canseco and it was his last as major leaguer. He very likely only played an 18th season just to reach the 3,000-hit milestone. Boggs was one of the great singles hitters in baseball history. The idea of him taking steroids in what was obviously his last season at 41 doesn’t make a lot of sense.
That leaves Rickey Henderson. I don’t think the timing of Canseco’s “bombshell” is coincidental. These claims of a “user in the Hall of Fame" are brand spankin’ new and weren’t made until Rickey Henderson was inducted into the HOF just a few weeks ago.. Canseco isn’t one to keep his mouth zipped. If this is something he could’ve said before, he likely would’ve said it. Henderson was a teammate of Canseco’s from 1989-1992. That is the time period in which Canseco claims to have injected Mark McGwire with steroids. Henderson was a strong player. His legs and upper body were thick. He certainly wouldn’t pass for Ozzie Smith’s stunt double.
If it does turn out to be Rickey Henderson, it would be quite ironic that even when Canseco tried to do something noble—in this case, protecting the identity and subsequent legacy of a former teammate—he failed miserably. It doesn’t take long to narrow down the list of potential suspects. I’m pretty sure he didn’t think that far ahead but I bet Rickey Henderson wishes he did.
Note: Canseco played with both Reggie Jackson and Don Sutton--Hall of Famers who retired in '87 and '88, respectively--as a member of the A's for one season each. Sutton played for the A's in Canseco's rookie year. Jackson retired after one unproductive season as Canseco's teammate. While anything is possible, neither played long enough to experience the steroid-boon of the 90's, nor were they Canseco's teammates long enough to likely build a solid drug rapport. Standard length for a solid drug bond is a minimum of two years.
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1 comment:
Ive always been a big fan of Ryne Sandberg, I think hes being groomed to take over as manager in the next couple years.
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