The Asterisked List

Throughout my life I have been exposed to many figures that I could call “role models”. Personally, many of these people have been sports figures, specifically baseball players. I remember one of the first players I ever idolized. He seemed like a giant to me, untouchable in the eyes of baseball. I thought for sure he was one of the greatest hitters of all time, that he would most definitely go down in history for his incredible hitting performance. His name was Sammy Sosa.
Unfortunately by now, we all know the story that goes along with this great hitter and the majority of the great hitters of our generation. I will recognize that I can’t lump all great hitters into the “cheaters” category, but regrettably it’s hard not to be a skeptic these days.

By now, you know that I talking about the undeniable “Steroids Era”, as it has been so appropriately named. It seems as though every day I hear about a new player testing positive for some kind of performance-enhancing drug that has long been outlawed my Major League Baseball. I believe the latest news I have heard was actually about Sammy Sosa: he had tested positive for steroids in 2003 when given a scheduled drug test. Not only does this show Sosa’s disregard for the regulations set by Major League Baseball, but it also shows his disrespect for every American baseball fan. Imagine those who have been Cubs fans for decades only to have the reputability of their clubhouse questioned because their players couldn’t abide by the rules.

And not to single out Sosa at any cost because he is by no means the only one breaking the rules. Major names such as Andy Petitte, Roger Clemens, and Alex Rodriguz have all been tied to prohibited performance-enhancing drug abuse. However, the one player that has riddled me the most with his connection to illegal drug use is Manny Ramirez. He never tested positive for “steroids”, but he did test positive for a female hormonal drug that has been known to mask steroid use. Does this mean his years of success with the Red Sox are now null and void? Will his reputation ever be able to come back from this lethal blow? Unfortunately, I can only think the answers to these questions are negative ones.
It seems to me that any player tainted with a connection to steroids is pretty much out of luck, which he should be. Even if some of these all time greats get voted into the hall of fame, their names will be marked with an asterisk explaining how illegal drugs helped enhance their statistics. So congratulations, you made it into the HOF but EVERYONE knows that you cheated your way there…. Seems a little bittersweet, don’t you think?

I want to take a minute to talk about Manny Ramirez in a little more detail. He played with the Boston Red Sox in 2004 when after an 86 year “curse,” they finally won a World Series title. Manny was, for lack of a better term, the man in Boston. He and Big Papi (David Ortiz) had finally granted the wish of Red Sox Nation, to reverse the curse. Ramirez stayed with the Sox until the summer of 2008 when his relationship with the organization became somewhat unsound. Apparently there was a monetary issue with resigning Ramirez, and there was no working it out. In a three-team deal, Ramirez was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. At this point Ramirez had no ties to steroids, and his fan base easily shifted with him from the eager Red Sox mindset to a more easygoing LA atmosphere. At the beginning of the 2009 season, the Dodgers were maximizing the advertising potential of Manny Ramirez. With the left field stands deemed as “Mannywood”, it seemed that Ramirez had made a new home. And it was not without good reason. As of May 6, the Dodgers were 21-8 and undefeated at home. It seemed that Ramirez had helped jumpstart a potential winning season, but unfortunately, less a day later he would be assigned to the bench. On May 7, Ramirez was suspended for 50 games due to illegal drug use. Not only were there concerns about Ramirez’s reputation and statistics, but many were now also concerned with how the Dodgers would do without their big slugger. Coincidentally, it has almost been 50 games, and the Dodgers are doing just fine - in fact better than fine. As of today (June 23), LA is leading not only their division by eight and a half games and the National League by seven games, but they are also leading the MLB by four games. These statistics should be enough explanation without going in to detail, but I will.

Obviously, Major League Baseball teams do not need players infected with steroids to win games. They need what they have always needed: players with talent, athleticism and heart. Now I’m not saying that there aren’t players still out there playing juiced up and going unnoticed, but it has to be recognized that steroids are nowhere near necessary to produce good results and powerful numbers. You have to remember, all those athletes using steroids are only AMONG those with the greatest numbers (they aren’t the only ones capable of producing such extraordinary figures). The records these juiced “athletes” are trying to break were all set by those uncontaminated by performance enhancing drugs.

I wish I could say the steroids era was over, but unfortunately it is my belief that it is only just beginning. For years to come, baseball fans are going to be continually let down as more of their favorite players are added to the asterisked list.

So boys, let’s lay off the juice and bring baseball back to the All-American past time. Numbers are only numbers; besides what’s the point of getting all those hits or striking out all those batters if you are only going to go down in history as a cheater?

I think Red Sox closer, Jon Papelbon, said it best, “It’s really easy actually… They make a pamphlet for you in Spanish and English and you just read it and know what not to take.”