Did steroids in baseball start with the Big Red Machine?

Did steroids in baseball start with the Big Red Machine? - Printable Version

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RE: Did steroids in baseball start with the Big Red Machine? - ande_23 - 01-02-2012

(01-02-2012, 08:28 AM)alfredoleal2001 Wrote: Steroids dont make a person run faster so i guess that doesnt count.

Ben Johnson...among many other track stars...

RE: Did steroids in baseball start with the Big Red Machine? - ThomasAA23 - 01-02-2012

(01-02-2012, 10:22 AM)ande_23 Wrote: Ben Johnson...among many other track stars...

Steroids do not make someone run faster, you already have to be a great runner, with good technique and steroids just help boost the muscles that are needed.

By no means am I glorifying steroid use, being involved in high level sports for so long, the negative effects, the culture, and everything surrounding steroids is awful. But, there is just one thing people often get confused about, they think steroids turn you into a super athlete which is not true. You must already posses the skill, technique and be an elite level athlete for steroids to have a impact.

To address the issue of The Big Red Machine using steroids in the early to mid 1970s, I find it very unlikely that steroids are used. Different athletes peak at different times, it has to do with a number of different factors. When you get introduced to the sport, off-field training, when you went through puberty, coaches, teammates, etc.

One thing you failed to look at is the culture of steroid use doing this time. Steroids were viewed in a very dim light, they were considered the body builders drug and associated with that was an image of a huge guy with muscles on muscles that most people did not want to be like. It was also considered the bad guys drug, as drug use was rampant in Eastern Germany, and parts of the Soviet Union this time. Most people in the USA wanted to show that they were better and did not need drugs to improve performance. It wasn't until the end of the 1970s that USA athletes started to dope on a large scale.

The only sport during this time in the USA that steroids were probably used in was in the NFL, and that goes with the concept of the body builder image the need to be bigger and stronger then your opponent. This body builders image did not fit in the baseball culture as it was often believed that you need flexible wrists to turn on or flick the ball. It wasn't until the 1990s that this view started to shift.

When making an accusation like this, you must look at it from all angles and not just the "numbers".

RE: Did steroids in baseball start with the Big Red Machine? - wmrklemm78 - 01-02-2012

(01-02-2012, 12:10 PM)ThomasAA23 Wrote: Steroids do not make someone run faster, you already have to be a great runner, with good technique and steroids just help boost the muscles that are needed.

And what is the result of the boosted muscles... the ability to run faster.

Look at it this way... if they didn't help a person run faster, then why would they disqualify a person for using them? They do so because it creates an unfair advantage - the ability to out=perform the competition because of steroids/HGH which was produced outside the athlete's body.

Remember... prescription steroids are LEGAL to use in this country. Ever wonder why people who have Tommy John surgery come back stronger? I think a lot of the reason is because athletes are legally prescribed steroids to aide in the recovery process.

RE: Did steroids in baseball start with the Big Red Machine? - ThomasAA23 - 01-02-2012

(01-02-2012, 12:39 PM)wmrklemm78 Wrote: And what is the result of the boosted muscles... the ability to run faster.

Look at it this way... if they didn't help a person run faster, then why would they disqualify a person for using them? They do so because it creates an unfair advantage - the ability to out=perform the competition because of steroids/HGH which was produced outside the athlete's body.

Remember... prescription steroids are LEGAL to use in this country. Ever wonder why people who have Tommy John surgery come back stronger? I think a lot of the reason is because athletes are legally prescribed steroids to aide in the recovery process.

Yes the boosted muscles help you run faster, but what I was saying is that you already have to be up at that elite level. You already have to have the skills and the technique, for steroids to have the impact you want to have.
I was just arguing the common believed myth that if you take steroids you turn into a super athlete. For example: I decide to take steroids to become a faster swimmer to join the Olympic team, the fact that I am an awful swimmer the steroids will not help me at all.

RE: Did steroids in baseball start with the Big Red Machine? - alfredoleal2001 - 01-02-2012

(01-02-2012, 12:51 PM)ThomasAA23 Wrote: Yes the boosted muscles help you run faster, but what I was saying is that you already have to be up at that elite level. You already have to have the skills and the technique, for steroids to have the impact you want to have.
I was just arguing the common believed myth that if you take steroids you turn into a super athlete. For example: I decide to take steroids to become a faster swimmer to join the Olympic team, the fact that I am an awful swimmer the steroids will not help me at all.

I totally agree with you on this. If a soccer player takes steroids he isnt going to gain any skills or ball handling techniques and turn into messi

RE: Did steroids in baseball start with the Big Red Machine? - davidmichaeljones - 01-02-2012

nobody has taken into account the coaching staff that was put into place at the start of the 70's with sparky anderson maybe that had something to do with overall better proformance with better coaching, ontop of an amazing lineup

RE: Did steroids in baseball start with the Big Red Machine? - jnjbj - 01-02-2012

I am not buying what your selling.

RE: Did steroids in baseball start with the Big Red Machine? - juda7 - 01-02-2012

I can see how someone can get these two mixed up?
BTW JOHN1580, that reply is going to be my new sig. Thanks. LOL
[Image: aaa.jpg]

RE: Did steroids in baseball start with the Big Red Machine? - john1580 - 01-03-2012

HAHAHA

RE: Did steroids in baseball start with the Big Red Machine? - ande_23 - 01-03-2012

(01-02-2012, 11:49 PM)juda7 Wrote: I can see how someone can get these two mixed up?
BTW JOHN1580, that reply is going to be my new sig. Thanks. LOL

<a href="http://s1122.photobucket.com/albums/l533/Nateguidry/?action=view&current=JohnnyBench.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/l533/Nateguidry/JohnnyBench.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

runaway winner for best signature of the year...lol