Bonds Exposed: "Shadows" Details Superstar Slugger's Steroid Use

NEW YORK (SI.com) -- Beginning in 1998 with injections in his buttocks of Winstrol, a powerful steroid, Barry Bonds took a wide array of performance-enhancing drugs over at least five seasons in a massive doping regimen that grew more sophisticated as the years went on, according to Game of Shadows, a book written by two San Francisco Chronicle reporters at the forefront of reporting on the BALCO steroid distribution scandal.

(An excerpt of Game of Shadows that details Bonds' steroid use appears exclusively in the March 13 issue of Sports Illustrated, which is available on newsstands beginning on Wednesday. The book's publication date is March 27.)

The authors, Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, describe in sometimes day-to-day, drug-by-drug detail how often and how deeply Bonds engaged in the persistent doping. For instance, the authors write that by 2001, when Bonds broke Mark McGwire's single-season home-run record (70) by belting 73, Bonds was using two designer steroids referred to as the Cream and the Clear, as well as insulin, human growth hormone, testosterone decanoate (a fast-acting steroid known as Mexican beans) and trenbolone, a steroid created to improve the muscle quality of cattle.

BALCO tracked Bonds' usage with doping calendars and folders -- detailing drugs, quantities, intervals and Bonds' testosterone levels -- that wound up in the hands of federal agents upon their Sept. 3, 2003 raid of the Burlingame, Calif., business.

Depending on the substance, Bonds used the drugs in virtually every conceivable form: injecting himself with a syringe or being injected by his trainer, Greg Anderson, swallowing pills, placing drops of liquid under his tongue, and, in the case of BALCO's notorious testosterone-based cream, applying it topically.

Those guys at the Chronicle have a huge amount of information related to steroid use in baseball. Not just the BALCO stuff, they have the goods on many/most of the guys in the game who have been users. And the list is very long.

Based on what I have read about Bonds in the past, he should NOT be a first ballot Hall of Fame inductee.

Bonds has been rude, belligerent, and/or unavailable to the media for the better part of his career. The ballots for the Hall of Fame are cast by human beings (writers) rather than by some computerized formula. Since Bonds has gone out of his way to be as nasty as possible to virtually everyone he has ever met, particularly sportswriters, it is doubtful that he would receive the requisite 75% of votes necessary to get into the Hall, on the first ballot or on any subsequent ballot. All the writers need is a plausible excuse not to vote for him. Clearly, the steroid issue is more than sufficient.

Of course, Mark McGwire is eligible first (2007) and if he gets in, despite an obvious steroid issue, it will be more difficult to deny entry to Bonds. McGwire's personality is the polar opposite of Bonds', and his respect for Roger Maris and for the game's history will certainly help his cause. Likeability can never be overlooked when human beings are doing the voting.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.