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By: Keith Dobkowski, MLB News Writer
February 8, 2005
Who knew that a fad that swept across America fifteen years ago
would finally be laid to rest in such a despicable manner? Ask
anyone on the street who would be responsible for the end of
the glorious Bash Brothers and it was clear that it would be Jose
Canseco.
The Bash Brothers, Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire, would bash
homeruns and then bash forearms in celebration. The fad took
off across America as people celebrated routine accomplishments
with the forearm bash. And the Bash led the Oakland A’s to
three consecutive World Series appearances.
Canseco and McGwire were the most feared one-two punch of
the late 80s and early 90s. But now the former Bash Brothers
are at odds as Canseco plan to release his biography on Monday,
February 14, 2005.
Canseco covers a wide range of topics but most notably name
names. Canseco claims that he taught McGwire, Jason Giambi,
Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, Rafael Palmeiro, and Juan Gonzalez how
to inject steroids. Furthermore, Canseco states that President
George W. Bush, a former part owner of the Texas Rangers, was
well aware of the steroid use on his team.
Canseco played with A’s during the hey-days of Bay Area Sports.
Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and Ronnie Lott were leading the 49ers
to Super Bowl Championships. Chris Mullin, Tim Hardaway and
Mitch Richmond were the high scoring trio from the Golden State
Warriors better known as ‘Run TMC.’ And in 1989 the San
Francisco Giants led by Will Clark met the Bash Brothers and the A’
s in the World Series.
Of all those bay area sports teams Canseco had more talent than
any of the other athletes. If he had only have given a damn
Canseco could have been the one discussed in terms of all-time
greats. Instead, we don’t even question what could have been,
but rather shake our heads in disappointment.
Canseco has only further added to the disappointment with his
latest stab for fame. Canseco’s sun has set and he had just one
last way to regain a portion of that prior fame and fortune, name
names.
Canseco promptly pointed a finger at his former Bash Brother
McGwire. Canseco stories included shooting steroids into
McGwire’s buttocks in an Oakland Coliseum clubhouse bathroom
stall. While it is hard to imagine two men as large as these two
fitting into a stall, Canseco’s claims of McGwire may not be.
The two players that McGwire has been most linked to
throughout his playing career were Canseco and Giambi.
McGwire served as Giambi’s mentor as he entered the major
leagues and it was Giambi who replaced McGwire at first base
when McGwire was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Now that both Canseco and Giambi have admitted steroid use, is
it that far fetched to believe that McGwire used as well. McGwire
has immediately denied Canseco’s claim and former coach Tony
Larussa and former teammate Terry Steinbach have both come to
McGwire’s defense. Both stated that McGwire was an intense
gym rat that never put on a tremendous amount of muscle in any
short period of time.
The same cannot be said of Canseco. Canseco was drafted out
of high school as a 170-pound shortstop. Just four years later
Canseco became baseball’s first 40-40 player, won the MVP, and
weighed in at 225 pounds.
While steroid rumors have circled around many of the players
Canseco named, Palmeiro was definitely a shock. Palmeiro, who
has hit over 500 homeruns, is not an Adonis like the other
players. Canseco, McGwire, Pudge and Gonzalez all have bodies
chiseled from stone, yet Palmeiro appears more putty than
stone.
As steroid rumors swirl about several players, including current
stars Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa, Canseco’s brightest point
may be have his belief that President Bush knew that players
were using steroids when he was part owner of the Texas
Rangers.
Bush used $600,000 from his trust fund to purchase a minority
share of the Rangers in 1989 and 1990. Just nine years later
Bush sold his share for nearly $15 million while making $200,000
per year as part of his Rangers salary. If Bush serves as an
example of owners in general, several made millions while turning
their heads away from steroid use.
The profits gained from the popularity of the long ball surely
played as large of a role in the steroid use as the players that
actually injected themselves. In fact both played off the other.
This controversy is bigger than Barry Bonds. And while Canseco
is not the best source, he does increase the number of suspected
players and sympathizers. The more players and sympathizers
named the greater the understanding of the modern game.
Whether it was ‘greenies’ in the 50s and 60s, or cocaine in the
70s and 80, or steroids in the 90s and today, baseball has
always been a game of abuse.
We are left to wonder what player will be next to name names.
Will it be McGwire, Sosa, Gonzalez or Palmeiro if their homerun
numbers are discounted due to steroids and they therefore fail to
make the hall? Or could it be a pitcher that finally opens the
world’s eyes to the benefits and miles-per-hour steroids provides?
It is certain that at some point another player will pull a Canseco
and name names for that last ditch effort for fame and fortune.
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