But the question those old articles raise – aside from how shabby the journalists are today, to pretend this is all new (“I’m shocked, shocked to find gambling going on in Rick’s!”) – is why we’d pillory Bonds and McGwire and Sosa for sins that it is almost a dead cert were committed (with amphetamines, primarily, but not only) by our heroes of the 60s and 70s. Read the link to the quote from the SURGEON (he uses caps too, Alex, forgive me!) of the Cardinals, and think about Gibson, then Mays and Aaron, and what about Koufax, who was in such brutal pain all the time? Think he passed on what Denny McLain admits he used?

What we need, seems to me, is some journalists to step up and take that long view.

Good post Will, I agree with it. There were lots of players using lots of PEDs (and not just steroids) for a long time, with complicity between players and management. And the media. And even fans to a degree.
increase in steroid use came about with increased attendance.

“In fact, a lot more people will increase their financial/political wealth on the chase than by the end result.”

Insightful, and undoubtedly true.

“As a fan, these people do not speak to me or for me.”

Me either. Thanks for putting that so well.

I would like to know when all the people who spent hours and content space on A-Rod are going to discuss what John Perricone uncovered from 1969 (simply by doing a search in SI’s archives!), which has not been widely reported or commented on. Though, to his credit, Peter Gammons put it in front of his audience, and added some nuanced analysis too.

After reading Perricone, and Gilbert’s article, I think its safe to say the so-called “Steriods Era” extends back a lot further than 1993. I have no real evidence, or even any suspicions to go on in saying this – but how do we know that, just to a pick a name from history – I’ll use a guy with unreal longevity and health, who was a noted workout fiend, and did amazing things at an advanced baseball age, things that few, if any, others in history have done – Nolan Ryan never used steroids? The circumstantial evidence and arguments – including the ridiculous ones – that many use and used to indict Barry Bonds could be applied to Ryan as well. Its not like steroids were non-existent or unknown at the time.

But then again, the all-time strikeout record isn’t quite as revered as the all-time home run record, and everybody loved Nolan (well, except for maybe Robin Ventura).

I wondered in one of Diane’s posts what many journalists thought about countries that pretty much allowed steroids and steroid use. Maybe we’re about to find out, but it’s obviously much trickier an issue than one would suspect, because as O’Keefe said, some if not many Dominican athletes will do anything to get off the island; and to be honest with you, the U.S. does encourage the mindset that only the strong survive and kinda remains mum on how many people who reach the top actually get there (until someone finds out it was by major crook). Even in those cases, history usually vindicates even those individuals (The robber barons of the 19-20th century, for example) and the common man is nothing more than dust. Ponzi is practically folklore now, what will be said about Madoff?

My point being, few people in the next generation or two will care who those 104 players are, and unless the countries involved take a scalpel to their brain-stamped principles, none of this amounts to anything more than a tempest in a teapot. In fact, a lot more people will increase their financial/political wealth on the chase than by the end result. The stink hanging over the game has as much to do with the journalists and politicians pursuing their own agendas as it does with the principals in MLB. What’s worse is they won’t accept or even acknowledge their own responsibility, while they demand remorse, remission and repercussions. As a fan, these people do not speak to me or for me.