Sports in AmericaSteroids in Baseball

Lesson EQ

• What impact has steroids had on the game of baseball?

1980s Home Run TotalsAmerican League National League Total Year

1844 1243 3087 1980

1062 719 1781 1981

2080 1299 3379 1982

1903 1398 3301 1983

1980 1278 3258 1984

2178 1424 3602 1985

2290 1523 3813 1986

2634 1824 4458 1987

1901 1279 3180 1988

1718 1365 3083 1989

1990s Home Run TotalsAmerican League National League Total Year

1796 1521 3317 1990

1953 1430 3383 1991

1776 1262 3038 1992

2074 1956 4030 1993

1774 1532 3306 1994

2164 1917 4081 1995

2742 2220 4962 1996

2477 2163 4640 1997

2496 2568 5064 1998

2635 2893 5528 1999

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/174307/MLB-TOTAL-HRs.png

Steroid Era

• 1987 – Mark McGwire hit 49 home runs– “juiced up ball” – Total – 4, 458

• 1992-1996 – jump of 2, 655 more home runs

Testing in Baseball• 1991 – MLB bans steroids• 2003 – year baseball began testing for steroids and other

performance enhancing drugs• Policy –

– The first positive test will result in a suspension of up to ten days. – The second positive test will result in a suspension of thirty days. – The third positive test will result in a suspension of sixty days. – The fourth positive test will result in a suspension of one full year.– Finally, the fifth positive test will result in a penalty at the

discretion of the Commissioner of Major League Baseball. Players will be tested at least once per year, with a chance that several players can be tested numerous times per year.

Suspension for Steroids

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20120

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Cheaters or not? • Mark McGwire Statistics– Homeruns during last 10 years• 1992 – 42• 1993 – 9• 1994 – 9• 1995 – 39• 1996 – 52• 1997 – 58• 1998 – 70• 1999 – 65• 2000 – 32• 2001 - 29

Cheaters or Not?• Barry Bonds– Homeruns during last 10 Years

• 1993 – 46• 1998 – 37• 1999 – 34• 2000 – 49• 2001 – 73• 2002 – 46• 2003 – 45• 2004 – 45• 2005 – 5• 2006 – 26• 2007 - 28

Other Sports Testing Policies

• NFL - Steroid use is banned. Players are randomly tested, and those testing positive could face game suspensions.

• NBA - Rookies are tested up to four times per season, and veterans are subject to one random test during training camp. Prohibited substances include amphetamines, cocaine, LSD, opiates, PCP, marijuana and steroids. Penalties range from game suspensions to lifetime bans.

Other Sports Testing Policy

• NHL - There is no mandatory drug-testing policy. The only drug testing that is done is for players that are already in the league's substance abuse aftercare program. Players who are abusers can seek help the first time without being exposed or suspended.

• NCAA - Athletes are randomly tested at NCAA championship events and football bowl games. Banned substances include cocaine, amphetamines, ephedrine, anabolic steroids, diuretics, heroin, marijuana, peptide hormones and urine manipulators. Athletes who test positive for any banned substance are ruled ineligible by their schools for at least 365 days and lose one year of eligibility.

Writing Activity

• Write an essay answering the prompt below.– Essay should be at least 5 paragraphs long– Be sure to include specific examples from the

articles– Also include SRA paragraphs

• Prompt – Steroids have been a part of baseball since the mid 1980s. What impact – positive or negative – has steroids had on the game?