This document summarizes the rise and fall of performance-enhancing drug (PED) use in Major League Baseball (MLB). It describes the steroid era of the 1990s-2000s when home run records were broken amid widespread PED use. Several scandals were revealed through books and investigations that implicated many top players. While PED use has declined due to increased testing and stigma against known users, several legendary players remain barred from the Hall of Fame due to PED connections. The future of MLB is thought to be cleaner as young players see success is possible without PEDs.

1. The Rise and Fall of PEDs in the
MLB
BY JORDAN SCHROEDER
ENC 3241

2. Some of League’s Best Hitters Played Long
Before the Steroid Era.
 Hitters such as Babe Ruth (Pictured
Above), Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle,
etc.

3. Steroid Era
To better understand how much the MLB has improved in terms of PED use we
must examine when it was at it’s worst.
 Early 1990s-Mid 2000s
 Career & Season Home Run Records were broken
by Barry Bonds.
 Nearly all of the great Home Run hitters of the
time have either been implicated or tested positive
for PED use.

4. In 2002, former National League Most Valuable Player Ken
Caminiti estimated that “at least half” of major league
players were using anabolic steroids (Mitchell Report).

5. BALCO Scandal
 BALCO was a clinic that
supplied a steroid
concoction to many
MLB players.
 At the trial following
the scandal Barry
Bonds (Career HR
Record Holder)
admitted to use of
steroids.

6. Juiced & Game of Shadows
 Juiced- Tell-all
book by former
MLB player, Jose
Canseco;
Published in
2005.
 Game of
Shadows-
Published in
2006.
 Both books
further tarnished
MLB’s integrity
and named
alleged users.

7. Mitchell Report
 409-page reported
ordered by MLB
Commissioner Bud Selig.
 Report was written
following a 21-month
investigation.
 89 MLB players were
implicated in the report.
 Most notably, Roger
Clemens (pictured).

8. Notable PED Users
 Barry Bonds (amphetamines; BALCO, Juiced)
 Mark McGwire (Steroids; Juiced)
 Alex Rodriguez (Steroids; drug test)
 Roger Clemens (Steroids, HGH; Mitchell Report)
 Sammy Sosa (unknown; drug test)
 Jason Giambi (HGH; BALCO, admitted user)
 Rafael Palmiero (Steroids; Juiced)
 Manny Ramirez (fertility drug; drug test)
 Eric Gagne (HGH; Mitchell Report)
 Jose Canseco (HGH; admitted user)

9. PEDs in Baseball Today

10. PEDs Today
 Ryan Braun, one of the league’s budding young stars,
was suspended 50 games for testing positive for a
PED in October 2011. He appealed the suspension
and eventually won.
 In early 2013, multiple MLB players, including Alex
Rodriguez, were linked to a Miami area clinic
allegedly supplying PEDs. So far no suspensions
have been given.

11. Signs PED Use is on the Decline
 2005-2007: 18 MLB players tested positive for PEDs
 2008-2010: 9 MLB players tested positive for PEDs
 Since 2010: No failed drug tests
 Only 5 MLB players have been implicated in the
Miami Clinic Scandal. Thus the largest number of
players implicated since the 2007 Mitchell Report.

12. Causes For Decline
 Increase in drug testing
 Improvements in drug
testing (less PEDs
undetectable)
 Stigma

13. Stigma
 Known users are labeled
as “cheaters” and are
condemned by the
baseball community
 Many notable players
associated with PEDs
have been denied access
to the Hall of Fame

14. Players Denied Entrance to HOF
 Barry Bonds (Career & Single Season HR Record holder,
7-time NL MVP)
 Mark McGwire (10th in Career HRs, 7-time All-Star,
Rookie of the Year)
 Roger Clemens (7-time Cy Young, AL MVP, 11-time All-
Star)
 Sammy Sosa (8th in Career HRs, NL MVP)
 6 of the top 15 Career HR hitters have been linked to
PEDs. So far none of have been admitted to the Hall of
Fame.
http://www.baseball-
reference.com/leaders/HR_career.shtml

15. Future of MLB is Bright
 Legendary Players such as
Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth
and others have shown
young players that the
extraordinary is possible
without PEDs.
 Stigma is as high as ever.
 Strict no-tolerance for
admittance to HOF.
 Increases in testing.
 All these factors contribute
to a cleaner game in the
future.

16. Sources
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POSITIVE TEST AND AVOIDS SUSPENSION." NEW YORK TIMES. (2013): N.
PAGE. WEB. 9 MAR. 2013.
ELFRINK, TIM. "A MIAMI CLINIC SUPPLIES DRUGS TO SPORTS' BIGGEST
NAMES." MIAMI NEW TIMES. (2013): N. PAGE. WEB. MAR. 2013.
MITCHELL, GEORGE. "THE MITCHELL REPORT: REPORT TO THE
COMMISSIONER OF BASEBALL OF AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION INTO
THE ILLEGAL USE OF STEROIDS AND OTHER PERFORMANCE
ENHANCING SUBSTANCES BY PLAYERS IN MAJOR LEAGUE
BASEBALL." . N.P., 13 12 2007. WEB. 9 MAR 2013.
QUINN, T.J. "CAUGHT IN THE ACT". SI.COM.
SIMON, ANDREW. "WEINER SAYS STRICTER PED PENALTIES A ' 2014
ISSUE'." MLB.COM. (2013): N. PAGE. WEB. 9 MAR. 2013.
WILLIAMS, LANCE, MARK FAINARU-WADA. "WHAT BONDS TOLD BALCO
GRAND JURY". SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE.
"YEAR BY YEAR LEADERS FOR HOME RUNS." BASEBALL-ALMANAC.
BASEBALL-ALMANAC, N.D. WEB. 9 MAR 2013.