On May 16 of last year, the PALM BEACH POST reported:
(Left: Holmes, Right: Watson)
Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. has known New York Yankees All-Star Alex Rodriguez for 16 years, but the two have not spoken since Rodriguez admitted to taking performance-enhancing drugs while playing for the Texas Rangers.
But when they do, he has one question.
“I really want to know why,” Ripken told the audience at the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County’s Men’s Night Out banquet Thursday.
”I’m going to make it my business to find out.”
Like you, I’m certain we’ll soon know what Ripken found out during his six month investigation. Probably right around the time Furman Bisher breaks the news that Tiger Woods has re-emerged from a sex addiction clinic in southern Mississippi.
In 2007, (gumshoe) Ripken and Mark McGwire were both eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame for the first time. Ripken was voted in while McGwire was not only embargoed by the BBWAA that year, but in two subsequent elections.
BBWAA member and Baseball Hall of Fame voter Mel Antonen in a 2007 USA TODAY web chat after voting concluded:
Oyster Bay: How do we know that other Hall of Famers never took steriods? How do we know 100% that Cal and Tony never did it? Please tell us, the American baseball fan how we can trust the media to give us the truth, when this was going on for years? Charlie from Oyster Bay
Mel Antonen: Cal and Tony were never accused of steroids by any legitimate source. There was no drug testing in place when they played.Elon, NC: Some writers said they won’t vote for anyone in the steroid era. Ripken got 98.5% Can he really be considered from the steroid era? Aren’t his numbers/accomplishments enough from 1981 to 1998?
Mel Antonen: I agree. It doesn’t make sense to link Ripken to any kind of steroids use.
With steroids primarily used by the population to recover from injury, “it doesn’t make sense” that Ripken partook during his run of 2,131 consecutive games played?
On the same day as Antonen’s chat, Jack Curry of the NEW YORK TIMES reported this quote from Baseball Hall of Fame voter Phil Rogers of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE on McGwire:
“I can’t imagine ever voting for him. He’s been linked too directly to steroid use.”
At the time of those quotes, an accusation by Jose Canseco in his first book was the only anecdotal link between McGwire and steroids. There was no direct evidence of any kind.
So the same guy MLB blackballed and BBWAA writers looked down their noses at, Canseco, had enough credility at that time to ruin McGwire’s Hall of Fame chances?
If that’s the case Mr. BBWAA, then what about Canseco’s 2009 clear implication that Ripken did steroids? Where’s the follow on that?
The only reason we view McGwire and Ripken any differently today is not solely because of Canseco’s accusation, but because McGwire was “invited” to the 2005 Congressional hearing and Ripken was not. Had Ripken been forced invited to testify under oath, the media would’ve throw him in the same cesspool as McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Rafeal Palmeiro.
So why wasn’t Ripken invited, considering that he broke a record that could be just as readily attributed to steroids as McGwire? Simple: McGwire had the misfortune of playing with Canseco and Ripken didn’t. McGwire was then forced to appear at the hearing because of Canseco’s accusations and the unwillingnessly by authorities to provide him legal immunity.
Yes, Canseco was ultimately responsible for McGwire getting banned from the Hall of Fame. But the fatal blow to his credibility came at the hearings, not from Canseco’s claim. Hearings where Ripken also should’ve been called, but wasn’t for reasons that have never been made clear.
Even then, there has never been any direct evidence linking McGwire to steroids. Not even close. BBWAA members solely based their HOF votes on one accusation from a former player with a dubious reputation and McGwire’s performance in front of Congress.
Ironic that so many people now celebrate Canseco as a man who helped clean up baseball, while ignoring his obvious linkage of Ripken to steroids.
4:52 pm on January 18th, 2010
Really? Are you trying to argue that THE ONLY evidence against McGwire was in Conseco’s book? Allbeit circumstantial, the American public had little trouble picking out the Red Hearing evidence that McGwire’s performance wasn’t natural. Lets be realiztic here….
5:14 pm on January 18th, 2010
This is a silly argument. There are many things that point to McGwire’s obvious cheating; like the bogus home runs. If your argument is that Ripken should not be a Hall Of Famer because McGwire is not; you are ignorant. Likewise, if your argument is that if you voted Ripken in the McGwire deserves to be in; your argument is also ignorant!!!
5:14 pm on January 18th, 2010
The reason no one thinks Ripken was on steroids is there is no evidence of it. He didn’t become unnaturally huge, neither his pecs nor his biceps began growing again in his late thirties (not to mention his cranium and his feet), and he didn’t suddenly start hitting an abnormal amount of homeruns.
Canseco doesn’t claim he injected him. Now that IS direct evidence, and it was direct evidence that McGwire used illegal drugs.
5:16 pm on January 18th, 2010
the steriod ‘era’ began well before 1998 fellas…steroids were being used in the MLB in the mid-70s. i’m not saying ripken used ‘roids, but to completely absolve him of not knowing about the juice is a bit naive. who was ripkens’ #1 workout buddy for aobut 5-6 yrs in balitmore….BRADY ANDERSON, Mr. 50 homeruns one year, 14 the next. c’mon guys, open your eyes.
11:51 pm on January 18th, 2010
How is Conseco’s reputation dubious? He has been right on the mark on everything he’s said / written. Scumbag, meathead, showboat, prabably, but not dubious.
9:48 am on January 19th, 2010
Anyone who thinks Cal did steroids are clearly bored out of their minds and MORONS! Seriously, reading this blog has wasted 2 minutes of my day. To the person that wasted their own time writing this…get a life. Seriously. You just want to bring people down b/c you’re obviously so completely jealous and bored with your life. Find a real reason to write A*SH*LE!
11:38 am on January 19th, 2010
Really, Brooks? The reason that I come to your site is because it’s the antithesis of deadspin. Are you really trying to blend into one and the same?
The post above - in addition to being very confusing to follow or make legitimate sense of - is baseless. You, yourself, can’t make heads-or-tails of the earlier post that you reference (”Is Canseco Trying To Tell Us Cal Ripken Juiced?”). Now, you’re trying to pass off the fact that Ripken wasn’t present during the Congressional hearing as the smoking gun to corroborate the equivocal comments of a self-serving narcissist?
Why should Ripken have been subpoenaed to testify? Why didn’t Congress subpoena every single Major Leage Baseball player to testify?
C’mon, Brooks! You’re better than this.
10:35 pm on January 28th, 2010
On September 14, 2008, I discovered that my home computer was hacked into by a Miami, FL radio station. It was 790 the ticket, WAXY. On the following day, I discovered that they stole everything from my computer including pictures, documents and were voyuering me and father at the time and was in my cell phones — I was using a prepaid phone then later bought a Blackberry which they were also in. Also with my stolen documents, they with a help of one of their listeners, Hasenpfeffer aka John Pearson, an IT specialist with the largest Ford dealership in Miami, they made a web site that contained all my documents, pictures and also included with all the web sites I visited and their web site also allowed for anyone to see what I was typing and when and how many times I visited a certain web site. Dan LeBatard also gave out all my passwords to all of my on line accounts such as my banking and other private information to all his listeners. Also, with Dan LeBatard’s media connections, ESPN, E! Network, MSNBC, Ryan Sea crest, The Miami Herald and many others also had knowledge of my hygiene habits along with all my daily activities. They circulated all my documents and picture throughout Florida and violated my privacy. They were in my life 24/7 and saw me in various stages of dress. Also, I might add, I have never published my picture or sent a picture out to anyone via web, but somehow, everyone knew or knows how what I look like. Still today, Seacrest and other shows, including Dan LeBatard base their shows around the information they stole from computer and the information on me that they saw through voyuring me. When I did file a complaint with FBI, they refuse to help me because LeBatard fooled them so much thinking that nothing was going on. Also, I found out that LeBatard had this through the fact they connected my computer to their system and connected my email to theirs by using a WAN mini port PPPoP. I also found on my computer the makings of a web site and a two lists which contained the most visited web sites I went to and another containing a list stating that I was a child molester , quick to anger, and prone to nudity just to name a few. Essentially, they saw everything and everyone who I email and what I emailed. They heard every conversation I had regardless if I was on the phone or not. They had invaded my privacy and I would really like some of your legal help in this matter. I would like all parties involved arrested and convicted. Also, at some of 790’s sponsored events, they gave out some of my private documents to the listeners who attended their events in Florida Dania Jai Ali, and LeBatard read my resume on his show. They gave out to their listeners my banking information along with my passwords of all my internet accounts. They also gave out my phone numbers and all my private information including where I lived. Most all broadcast network stations have my information and I would like for someone to help me. I feel since they fooled the FBI that I have no one to turn to and could really use your help.