A Throne of Lies

Here’s my problem with the “Steroid Era” in baseball:

I had a conversation one day with a well known former Oakland A’s player who I will not name, but he wrote a book about the use of steroids in baseball and he wasn’t Mark McGuire, Sammy Sosa or Barry Bonds. Nor did he ever testify before Congress. Later he kept playing independent ball.

In that conversation, we discussed a variety of things, including a home run he had once hit while playing in Tacoma at a game that I just happened to be in attendance. It was long before he became a 40/40 player in the Majors.

It was a slippery slope, but since he had written the book, I asked him what he would say to the average fan about why players used steroids? His answer was not what I expected, and it took me years to process it. He told me that it was his love for playing baseball that led him to use the juice. In essence, he was afraid of not being able to compete in the game he loved, and wanted to stay relevant.

On the surface, it’s actually a valid answer and one that I thought reflected the same love of the game I had. Years of thought though, have changed my mind.

His explanation was not evolutionary. We all get older and we lose that athletic edge we once had. And here is where I get to my real issue with it. In later years, I ended up as the radio producer for the Stockton Ports. Those kids… just… wow. Imagine having such a fierce dream that you are willing to work for next to nothing and travel on a bus all over California to play High-A baseball.

Then imagine that the natural progression of things is upended by players above you using steroids. A career is only so long. Even in Single-A ball, there are injuries, there is strain and wear and tear. And the natural path to the top is blocked by players using steroids.

Who of those kids did we not get to see play in the Majors because of steroids?

I personally will never accept Bonds, McGuire, Sosa or any of the others as record holders as long as we know that not only did they cheat, but their cheating was more than just the rules of the game. They cheated countless other players of the opportunity to advance and play and thrill us. They took away opportunities from so many others who never got the chance they deserved and worked so hard to earn. Their cheating drove others to cheat in their vain attempt to stay relevant and competitive. 

Personally, I blame Baseball for allowing it to happen. Which is why Hank Aaron is still the real Home Run King.

In the vast timeline of baseball, few moments have stirred as much emotion, admiration, and controversy as Barry Bonds’ 2001 season. That year, Bonds achieved what was once thought near-impossible: surpassing Mark McGwire’s single-season home run record. This event stands as both a testament to Bonds’ unparalleled talent and a symbol of baseball’s Steroid Era.

October 5, 2001, marked the day. Playing against the Los Angeles Dodgers at AT&T Park, Bonds faced rookie pitcher Dennis Springer. In the first inning, on a 1-1 count, Springer tried to sneak a knuckleball past Bonds. The result? A mammoth shot that landed in the center-field stands, marking Bonds’ 71st home run of the season. He would go on to hit another later in the game, and ultimately finish the season with 73.

Though Bonds’ homers were the highlight, the game itself ended in a 11-10 loss for the Giants, solidifying the notion that individual brilliance often overshadows team outcomes.

Bonds’ record-breaking season was not celebrated universally. As whispers turned into loud proclamations about Bonds’ alleged steroid use, a significant part of the baseball community called his record into question. Although Bonds admitted years later to unknowingly using substances from BALCO labs, he never conceded to deliberately taking steroids. The BALCO scandal, with Bonds at its epicenter, epitomized baseball’s most tumultuous era.

Bonds’ on-field accomplishments are staggering. Beyond the 2001 season, his 762 career home runs and unmatched seven MVP titles emphasize his dominance. However, Bonds remains one of baseball’s most polarizing figures. To some, he symbolizes the apex of baseball artistry; to others, an embodiment of the sport’s tainted era.

Baseball’s Steroid Era is a chapter historians approach with caution. The late 20th and early 21st century saw the game’s most celebrated records shattered, but also the credibility of its stars questioned. Beyond Bonds, other luminaries like Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Roger Clemens faced scrutiny. Major League Baseball’s eventual response—a more stringent drug policy—was a tacit acknowledgment of a widespread issue.

Bonds’ 2001 record stands as a watershed moment in baseball history. It forces fans and historians alike to grapple with complicated questions about authenticity, integrity, and the nature of achievement. As the years progress, the legacy of Bonds and the Steroid Era will be subjected to reinterpretation. However, their significance in the narrative of baseball is undeniably profound.