Roids and Baseball
Fernando Tatis Jr. at a press conference after PED suspension. Via AP Images.
Baseball star Fernando Tatis Jr. tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs (PED) two weeks ago and was suspended for 80 games despite hopes of returning from his injuries to help the Padres in the postseason stretch. Tatis and his father, Fernando Tatis Sr., claim that the clostebol, a relatively weak but banned anabolic steroid, was from the medication used to treat his ringworm infection. Although the excuse is plausible, as some countries sell ointment containing clostebol for skin infections, a player with a 14-year, $340 million contract should tread carefully on any possibilities of cheating for his reputation and team. Generally, players committed to playing a sport should play based on their abilities, not through performance enhancers.
However, the history of baseball cannot be mentioned without some sort of performance enhancer affecting the game. One of the first known instances of doping within the sport is from 1889 by Jim “Pud” Galvin, who used testosterone from animal gonads. Although primitive, the enhancer gave Galvin an upper hand when pitching against hitters, earning him the nickname of making the opposing batter’s brain into “pudding.”
Fast-forward to the early 1900s, when the legendary Babe Ruth also attempted doping through some liquid from sheep testicles. However, it only rendered him ill without much physical benefit that he and several other players sought. The number of players that allegedly used performance enhancers increased as time went on. Former pitcher Tom House estimated that six to seven pitchers of each team used steroids in the 1960s and 70s. Even Hall of Famers such as Hank Aaron and Willie Mays admitted using amphetamine, a common stimulus drug within the league at the time.
Graph showing the homerun average of MLB from 1965 to 2014. The average surged in the 1990s and the early 2000s. Via Baseball-Reference.
By the late 1980s, steroids broke onto the scene, boosting the power of major leaguers. The batters particularly benefited from the drug, with 42% of the Major League’s 40-homer seasons happening from 1996 to 2006. During this era, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, and Sammy Sosa, who all were found to have injected steroids during their career, set homerun records after records, with the trio hitting at least 60 each in their careers. Bonds also has the all-time career home run record; however, he missed his final chance to be inducted into the Hall of Fame like other steroid users. This begs the question: should the use of performance-enhancers strip these players of their reputation?
To validate the legacies of baseball legends justly, we must look through the lens of their respective time rather than by modern-day standards. For the generation that viewed amphetamine as a mere stimulus to keep their bodies energized in 100+ game seasons, it’s hard to say. The MLB did not outright ban or test the substance. Within the baseball community, amphetamine, or “greenies,” were considered a part of the game. Check out this quote by the legendary Chipper Jones, a former player for the Atlanta Braves:
“I don’t want to say guys are addicted, but it’s like putting on your uniform. You have your glove, your batting gloves, your bat, you take your greenie and you’re ready to go.” -Chipper Jones
When it was finally banned in 2006, coaches and players were more concerned about player longevity than the quality of their performance. Indeed, longevity plays a huge role in a player’s career, but considering average players stayed average and good players stayed good with amphetamine, the Hall of Famers from the mid-1900s could be considered excused. Still, their legacies should be mentioned with the “greenies,” with an asterisk next to their names.
From left to right. Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, and Barry Bonds. Via Getty Images.
Players from the steroid era are a different story. Steroids were banned in 1991, nearly two decades before amphetamine was. Despite this restriction, the juiced-up “legends” went on to dominate the league thanks to the PED. Although MLB dealt with the situation poorly by starting to test for steroids in 2003, which was well after the steroid era began, steroid users did not adhere to the league’s rules and the integrity of the game. Steroids were less common than amphetamine, with about 7% of players using the former while 75% of major leaguers allegedly using the latter. With only a minority of the league using steroids, its users gained an unfair advantage and must be barred from entering the Hall of Fame and holding all-time records. Especially homerun records.
Now back to the present. Should players like Tatis be allowed to make up for their mistakes by playing afterward? Or should they have the steroid label follow them around for the rest of their careers? Let’s look at some players who have tested positive for PEDs in recent years but are still accepted by the league. Starling Marte, a player for the New York Mets, was caught using nandrolone in 2017, yet he is still valued in the league as a valuable outfielder. He rightly apologized to his family, teammates, and fans for his deeds and now playing in a World Series contending team. Additionally, Bartolo Colón, loved by MLB fans as the “Big Sexy,” is another one of the few who were let off the hook for PED use. He tested positive in 2013, but with his acceptance and apology, he did not bring the anger of fans which is usually the consequence. He was well-respected in and out of the field, and his relatively small contract at the time of $2 million may have helped him. As for Tatis, he did not deal with the immediate situation well with the ringworm excuse and the shaky relationship he had with the Padres organization (Tatis missed the beginning of this season with a motorcycle injury). He also has one of the biggest contracts in baseball, so he has a lot to make up for his reputation and value. Fortunately for the young star, he is still 23 years old and tested positive for PEDs when he was out for the injury. He can still bounce back from his actions, but he will have to deal with the steroid label throughout his career. Most importantly, Tatis should follow the steps of major leaguers who have made similar mistakes for themselves, the team, and the fans.