Baseball's Steroid Era

While Jason Grimsley's affidavit was being unsealed by an Arizona court, Kirk Radomski's affidavit was unsealed in New York court December 20. The names formerly redacted from the affidavit are mostly In line with those mentioned in the Mitchell report. The only names from the affidavit not in the Mitchell Report were that of former New York Mets pitcher, Sid Fernandez, and three... Continue Reading >

The Jason Grimsley affidavit was unsealed in an Arizona court December 20. In October 2006 the Los Angeles Times listed what they believed to be 5 of the redacted names in Jeff Novitzky's Search Warrant for Jason Grimsley's Arizona home. The article claimed that Grimsley had stated that Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte used "athletic performance-enhancing drugs" and that Miguel Tejada... Continue Reading >

The much-hyped Mitchell Report (view PDF) on performance enhancing drugs in baseball was released today. The very thorough report (given the circumstances) seemed to naturally cover four distinct areas. (1) The history of drug use in baseball (including past media reports), (2) An assessment of blame... Continue Reading >

The following table lists all the players, 88 in total, linked to performance enhancing drugs in the Mitchell Report. The page numbers represent the page number in the actual Mitchell Report, while the numbers in parentheses indicate the page number in the PDF version. The mention of Sammy Sosa seems very... Continue Reading >

Barry Bonds appeared as promised in a San Francisco court December 7 and pleaded not guilty to four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice. Bonds appeared with 6 attorneys including recent additions, Cristina Arguedas and Allan Ruby. While the maximum sentence for the charges... Continue Reading >

Jay Gibbons and Jose Guillen were each suspended 15 days by Major League Baseball for violating baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Neither player has failed a MLB mandated test. The suspensions will take place at the beginning of the 2008 season... Continue Reading >

Free agent pitcher Dan Serafini was suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug. Serafini signed with the Colorado Rockies in July after spending three and a half years pitching in Japan. He appeared in three games and logged only one-third... Continue Reading >

Barry Bonds was indicted on three counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice for lying to a grand jury about his use of performance-enhancing drugs. The charges, of course, stem from his BALCO grand jury testimony in December 2003. The maximum sentence for the charges combined is... Continue Reading >

Three more players were linked to anabolic steroid and human growth hormone purchases through the Palm Beach Rejuvenation Center in Florida. Two former players, Matt Williams and Ismael Valdez, along with current player Jose Guillen are said to have purchased performance-enhancing drugs in the article written by Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada of BALCO fame... Continue Reading >

Just five days ago Cleveland Indians pitcher, Paul Byrd, helped his team beat the Boston Red Sox giving the Indians a 3-1 series lead. Now he finds himself on the front page again, this time linked to nearly $25 000 worth of human growth hormone. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Byrd was prescribed and sent more than 1000 vials of human growth hormone and hundreds... Continue Reading >

Yet another Major League Baseball player has been linked to Signature Pharmacy. New York Mets' reliever, Scott Schoeneweis, was reportedly sent multiple shipments of anabolic steroids from an internet pharmacy at the center of a major performance-enhancing drug distribution ring involving bogus prescriptions dispensed over the internet. According to the ESPN, Schoeneweis received... Continue Reading >

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman, Troy Glaus was sent multiple shipments of anabolic steroids from an internet pharmacy at the center of a major performance-enhancing drug distribution ring involving bogus prescriptions dispensed over the internet. According to the Sports Illustrated, Glaus received multiple shipments of nandrolone and testosterone between September 2003 and... Continue Reading >

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher-turned-outfielder, Rick Ankiel received human growth hormone (hGH) from an internet pharmacy at the center of a major performance-enhancing drug distribution ring involving bogus prescriptions dispensed over the internet. According to the New York Daily News, Ankiel received a 12 month supply of human growth hormone from Signature Pharmacy... Continue Reading >

On the night of August 7, 2007, Barry Bonds hit a full-count pitch from Washington Nationals' pitcher, Mike Bascik, to the deepest part of AT&T Park in right center field, an estimated 435 feet. The stadium immediately erupted while fans fought for the historic and valuable ball. Bud Selig was not in attendance. In his place were Major League Baseball executive vice president Jimmie... Continue Reading >

Barry Bonds tied Hank Aaron's all-time home run record August 4, 2007 in San Diego (video below). Bonds hit a 2-1 pitch from Clay Hensley in the second inning into the left field stands at 7:29 Pacific time to tie the mark. Ironically, Henlsey was one of 38 minor league players suspended in April 2005 for using performance-enhancing drugs, the first round of minor league suspensions... Continue Reading >

Detroit Tigers' utility infielder, Neifi Perez, was suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball for a third positive test for amphetamines. The suspension was announced the day Perez was set to return from his first suspension (25 games) which began on July 6, 2007. In all this marks Perez's third positive test... Continue Reading >

Citing multiple sources familiar with the proceedings, the New York Daily News' T.J. Quinn is reporting that the Grand Jury investigating BALCO and subsequent performance-enhancing drug charges was renewed for another 6 months. While it comes as no major surprise that the government would extend the grand jury in and of itself, sources also told Quinn that the government expects to indict Barry Bonds after the grand jury reconvenes in September... Continue Reading >

Detroit Tigers infielder Neifi Perez became the first player suspended by Major League Baseball for using amphetamines. Perez was suspended for 25 games, the penalty for a second positive test. "I say to my fans that I am not stupid. I know the difference between good and bad and there are things that are going to be known going forward... Continue Reading >

The Associated Press became the second news organization in recent weeks to ask a judge to make public the names of baseball players the government has kept confidential. The Associated Press has requested the redacted names from the Affidavit in Support of Search Warrant for Jason Grimsley's Arizona home in 2006. The AP cited more or less the same argument that the Hearst Corporation made when they requested the names from Kirk Radomski’s... Continue Reading >

Jason Giambi has agreed to cooperate with George Mitchell's investigation into steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs in baseball. This comes as no surprise to those following the story. The New York Daily News has been reporting almost daily about the progress between lawyers from the Players Union and Major League Baseball regarding the potential meeting... Continue Reading >

The San Francisco Chronicle and Albany Times Union, both owned by Hearst, are trying to obtain the redacted names of players and others cited in the investigation of former New York Mets bat boy, Kirk Radomski. The newspapers have filed a motion to unseal Kirk Radomski's affidavit in support of search warrant from 2005. It was that affidavit which contained the redacted names of 22 "MLB associated individuals" who had purchased performance-enhancing drugs from Radomski as well as other incriminating information... Continue Reading >

Jason Giambi has agreed to cooperate with George Mitchell's investigation into steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs in baseball. This comes as no surprise to those following the story. The New York Daily News has been reporting almost daily about the progress between lawyers from the Players Union and Major League Baseball regarding the potential meeting... Continue Reading >

The New York Daily News is reporting that Jason Giambi failed an amphetamine test within the last year. Citing 'sources,' reporter T.J. Quinn claimed Giambi's failed an MLB test and was subsequently subject to six additional tests this year. Giambi hinted at the failed test last week when he told USA Today that he was "probably tested more than anybody." Under the terms of Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program... Continue Reading >

On May 18, USA Today published an article wherein Jason Giambi essentially admitted using steroids, and said all of baseball should apologize for what has happened. "I was wrong for doing that stuff. What we should have done a long time ago was stand up -- players, ownership, everybody -- and said: 'We made a mistake.' We should have apologized back then and made sure we had a rule in place and gone forward... Continue Reading >

The New York Times is reporting that the Mitchell investigation into Steroids in baseball have sought the medical records for "dozens" of current and former Major League Baseball players. The report specifically deals with a request sent to the Baltimore Orioles. A baseball source with direct knowledge of the request told the Times that Mitchell had sought records from former Orioles, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, Jason Grimsley, David Segui and... Continue Reading >

Tampa Bay Devil Rays relief pitcher, Juan Salas became the first player suspended under Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Treatment and Prevention Program this year. Salas is the 16th player to be suspended overall, and the 15th positive test (Jason Grimsley was suspended for accepting a shipment of human growth hormone in 2006 but never tested positive after 2003's... Continue Reading >

Kirk J. Radomski, a former batboy, clubhouse assistant and equipment manager for the New York Mets, admitted to distributing a variety of performance-enhancing drugs, including steroids and hGH, to 'dozens' of Major League Baseball players from 1995 to 2005 when his home was raided by investigators, according to a plea agreement filed in federal court April 27, 2007... Continue Reading >