Steroids Family Tree: Canseco Branch

Beginning with Jose Canseco and the Oakland Athletics of the late 1980s, steroids use would become rampant in Major League Baseball in the mid 1990s. The offensive explosion of 1987 was attributed to a new baseball, which may be partly true, as offensive numbers would return to normal the next season and remain there through 1992. The 'Steroids Era' would begin in earnest in 1993 and continue for a full decade before MLB would institute a drug testing policy. During this period many offensive records were broken by star players, while mediocre players were posting Ruthian numbers as well. Canseco and company created a steroids family tree that is interesting to speculate about.

Canseco begat McGwire. In 1987, Mark McGwire hit a rookie record 49 Home Runs. After three consecutive mediocre seasons in which he failed to hit 40 Home Runs, his career appeared to be in rapid decline following his disastrous 1991 season in which he hit just 22 Home Runs with a Mendoza-like .201 Average, and a Slugging Percentage of .383 which was sixth best on his team. The next year he rebounded well, before injuries took nearly two full seasons from him. Upon his return in 1995, McGwire would go on to hit Home Runs at a record pace, eventually breaking Roger Maris's record in 1998 when he hit a ridiculous 70 Home Runs in only 509 At Bats. That year he was caught using androstenedione, a muscle builder that made him as big as Hulk Hogan, and soon after nearly everyone in Baseball was using supplements.

McGwire begat Giambi. Canseco returned to Oakland for one final season with the A's in 1997, which was McGwire's last year with the team as he was traded to the Cardinals at the deadline. Before they left, 'the Bash Brothers would leave their mark on Jason Giambi, a young player on the team who would go on to become a great Home Run hitter in his own right, hitting more than 400 Home Runs in his career. When steroid testing became mandatory in 2004, Giambi became ill with a mysterious 'virus' that shrunk his muscles.

Giambi begat Tejada. After the departure of Canseco and McGwire, the A's somehow quickly rebuilt the offense around future MVPs Giambi and Miguel Tejada, while other players on the team like Matt Stairs and John Jaha suspiciously put up career numbers. Tejada became a consistent 30 Home Run and 100 RBI player as a Short Stop, something unheard of in the 1980s and early 1990s. After teammate Rafael Palmeiro was suspended for testing positive for steroids in 2005, he pointed the finger at a supplement that Tejada gave him.

McGwire begat Pujols. While he has not been linked to steroids use, Albert Pujols was McGwire's teammate during Pujols's rookie season of 2001. After hitting 19 Home Runs in the Minor Leagues in 2000, Pujols nearly doubled that total in the Major Leagues the following season in which he had one of the greatest rookie campaigns in Baseball history. He has posted more than 30 Home Runs, 100 RBI, and a .300 Average in each of his nine MLB seasons, and is on his way to his third MVP season. There are no players prior to 1986 with Pujols's physique, which is similar to McGwire's, while most of his contemporaries with similar bodies have been revealed as steroids users.

Canseco begat Palmeiro. As a member of the Rangers in 1993 and 1994, Canseco claimed he injected steroids into three young players: Ivan Rodriguez, Juan Gonzalez, and Rafael Palmeiro. Gonzalez was the only one of the three to be a power hitter before the arrival of Canseco, yet all three would amass more than 300 career Home Runs. Palmeiro, who was a decent player with limited power until 1992, would hit 474 of his 569 career Home Runs after meeting Canseco. Interesting fact: Sammy Sosa was a teammate of Palmeiro's in his rookie year of 1989 with the Rangers, and again in 2005 with the Orioles.

Palmeiro begat Anderson. The poster boy for steroids use in the 1990s was Brady Anderson, who never admitted to using steroids, however raised suspicions when he hit 50 Home Runs in 1996 after never hitting more than 21 in any prior season. With Anderson and Palmeiro, the 1996 Orioles (more on them later) were one of three teams to break the Home Run record that season, surpassing the 241 hit by the 1961 Yankees.

Palmeiro begat Rodriguez. In 2001, Alex Rodriguex signed the most lucrative contract in Baseball history with the Rangers. On the team were Palmeiro and Ken Caminiti (more on him later), both steroids users. A-Rod, who took supplements as a young player with the Mariners (more on them later), admitted to taking steroids only during his three years with the Rangers in which he averaged 50 Home Runs per season. He was young. He was naive. He was young. He was naive. He was young. He was naive.

Canseco begat Clemens. During Roger Clemens's last two years with the Red Sox, he was teammates with Canseco. After an injury forced Clemens to miss some time in 1993-1995, he rebounded in 1996 by leading the league in Strikeouts though he won just ten games. Red Sox GM Dan Duquette suggested Clemens was in the twilight of his career after the season, allowing him to leave as a free agent. Clemens signed with the Blue Jays and went on to win the Cy Young Award in both of his years with the team. Then he met country singer Mindy McCready and his life went to hell.

Clemens begat Pettitte. Best friends Clemens and Andy Pettitte worked out and took steroids together while teammates on both the Yankees and Astros. While Clemens's performance was obviously aided by steroids, it is hard to say what affect steroids had on Pettitte, though his performance mirrored that of Clemens when they were teammates.

Canseco begat Green. A platoon player before Canseco's arrival in Toronto, Shawn Green doubled his output during Canseco's only year as his teammate. Green hit 16 Home Runs with 53 RBI in 1997 without Canseco, and 35 Home Runs with 100 RBI in 1998 with Canseco. While never linked to steroids use, Green and teammate Carlos Delgado put up big numbers as teammates of Canseco and Clemens.

Canseco begat Vaughn. A young player with power, Mo Vaughn finally realized his potential when Canseco joined the Red Sox in 1995. Vaughn won the MVP award that year and put up Rice-like numbers in 1996 with Canseco again a teammate. Vaughn left the Red Sox at the end of the 1998 season for a lucrative contract with the Angels even though it wasn't about the money.

Vaughn begat Glaus. Mo Vaughn signed with the Angels in 1999, who featured rookie Troy Glaus, who hit just one Home Run in 165 At Bats in 1998. Glaus hit 29 Home Runs in 1998 with Vaughn on the team, and the next season Glaus would lead the league with 47 Home Runs at just 23 years old. Teammate Garrett Anderson, who was not linked to steroids, would also have a career year in 1999, hitting 35 Home Runs which was 14 more than his previous high.

These players are the biggest names linked to steroids. Others like Manny Alexander and Jason Grimsley could also be a part of the branch, but they had insignificant careers. Home Run hitters like Mark Teixeira and Jim Edmonds put up great numbers while being teammates with players from this branch, however were never accused of using steroids. Only time will tell who else was among the list of 104, and members of the Canseco Branch.