Something to consider when commenting on the dirty, dirty cheaters on this year’s Hall of Fame ballot: steroids were not invented in an evil lab underneath Oakland Coliseum in 1988 by Dr. Jose Canseco. They did not solely cheapen a record book that was pristine until the home run race of 1998. In…
VINTAGE BASEBALL MEMORABILIA Vintage Baseball Memorabilia José CansecoPositions: Outfielder and Designated HitterBats: Right • Throws: Right6-4, 240lb (193cm, 108kg)Born: July 2, 1964 in La Habana, CubaDraft: Drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 15th round of the 1982 MLB June Amateur Draft from Carol City HS (Miami Gardens, FL).High Schools: Carol City HS (Miami…
An anonymous bidder pays $418,250 for the baseball hit by Mookie Wilson that rolled through the legs of Bill Buckner, allowing the Mets to cap a two-out rally with a 6-5 walk-off victory in the tenth inning in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. The historic horsehide was the centerpiece of memorabilia being offered by Heritage Auctions from the collection of Los Angeles songwriter Seth Swirsky, which also included Reggie Jackson’s third home run ball from Game 6 of the 1977 Fall Classic ($65,725), the Ranger cap that Jose Canseco was wearing in 1993 when a ball bounced off his head over the wall for a homer ($11,950), and a 1965 baseball signed by the Beatles from the Shea Stadium concert ($65,725).
Jack Cust whiffs in his first two plate appearances and K’s again in the eighth inning to bring his strikeout total this season to 176. The A’s outfielder/DH breaks the franchise record previously held by Jose Canseco, who fanned 175 times in 1986.
Stealing second base in the first inning in an 8-5 victory over the Brewers at RFK, Alfonso Soriano becomes the fourth player in major league history in a single season to hit 40 homers and steal 40 bases. The Nationals’ outfielder joins Jose Canseco (1988), Barry Bonds (1996), and Alex Rodriguez (1998) as the only players to record 40-40 seasons.
Rafael Palmeiro becomes the highest-profile player suspended for violating the MLB steroids policy. The Orioles first baseman, who denies knowingly taking any banned substances, stated this spring to the House Government Reform Committee that published allegations by Jose Canseco of his steroids use were “absolutely false” and had considered suing his former teammate over the accusation.
2005 – During more than 11 hours of hearings by the Committee on Government Reform concerning major league players’ use of steroids, Mark McGwire refuses to talk about the past and does not deny taking performance enhancing drugs. Other players testifying include Curt Schilling, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro, and former big leaguer Jose Canseco, whose recent book, Juiced, prompted the congressional hearing. Palmeiro will be found guilty of steroid usage later this year.
Jose Canseco’s controversial book, Juiced, is made available in selected markets in anticipation of his appearance on CBS’s Sixty Minutes. The self-proclaimed godfather of the steroids in baseball alleges Mark McGwire, Juan Gonzalez, Rafael Palmeiro, and Ivan Rodriguez all used illegal performance-enhancing drugs.
Receiving 27 of 28 first-place votes, Bobby Crosby (.239, 22, 64) wins the American League Rookie of the Year Award. The Oakland shortstop, who is the son of former big leaguer infielder Ed Crosby, joins Harry Byrd (1952), Jose Canseco (1986), Mark McGwire (1987), Walt Weiss (1988), and Ben Grieve (1998) as the sixth A’s freshman to be honored by the BBWAA.
Albert Pujols joins Jose Canseco as the only other player in major league history to hit 30 home runs and drive in 100 runs during his first three seasons. The Cardinals left fielder accomplished the feat with a run-scoring double in the first inning of the team’s 3-0 victory over Florida at Busch Stadium.