Born in Cuba and raised in Florida, Jose Canseco is one of the most compelling players in MLB history. With his history of off-the-field issues and is notable for being one of the first players to openly admit to taking performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). Canseco was known for his “bad boy” and “rebel” personality. Jose Canseco’s “Juiced” was released in 2005, in the middle of the “Steroid Era”, which is one of the scandalous and controversial times in baseball history.
This infamous book has cemented itself in baseball history. Canseco details his steroid use, explains his side of his life choices, and details specific players that he introduced to PEDs. He is known as one of the first players to introduce PEDs to baseball and continued to help other players experiment.
In this article, I will be breaking down sections of Jose Canseco’s “Juiced”. I will break down the importance of the novel, the players he talks about, and the stories outside of baseball, showing that he may not be the same person the media has labeled him.
Let’s dive in.
The Teammates and the “Chemistry Club”
Jose Canseco says he acted as the “godfather” of steroid use in baseball. At the beginning of his book, he discusses the mystery surrounding steroids. Canseco breaks down how he experimented with PEDs and mixed them together before finding the perfect combination. After he found the perfect combination, he started seeing real results in his build, but Canseco’s most important trait he gained from PEDs was confidence. Once he saw progress in his physique, other players became curious about how they could look and perform like Canseco.
Many players are mentioned throughout Jose Canseco’s “Juiced”, the most notable being slugger Mark McGwire. Their time in Oakland is detailed heavily, Canseco describing their relationship as “close”. He strived for Mark McGwire’s “All-American” reputation; however, Canseco felt he could never reach that because of the color of his skin. Mentioning Mark McGwire in “Juiced” caused major controversy and ruined Mark McGwire’s reputation.
In Jose Canseco’s “Juiced”, Canseco states that as many as 80% of players at the time used steroids at least once. He talks about former teammates such as Rafael Palmeiro, Ivan Rodriguez, Miguel Tejada, and Juan Gonzalez. Canseco mentions talking about the use and helping them learn about, or even injecting the player personally. Former All-Star Jason Giambi was detailed as an obvious user by Canseco, as well as Chicago Cubs legend Sammy Sosa.
Canseco says that PEDs are healthy if you take them correctly. In baseball, you do not need to take crazy amounts like in bodybuilding. He says players who have struggled with side effects later in life did not take PEDs correctly, and if they did, they would have lived a healthy life.
The Media’s Villain Arc vs. Jose’s Reality
When I started reading this book, I realized quickly what this book is all about, and Canseco admits this himself. This book is about clearing his name and reputation that the media gave him throughout his career. He describes stories that the media created and scenarios that were blown out of proportion. Regardless if they were true or not, Canseco breaks down his side of the story and explains what happened through his eyes.
The first of the domestic violence cases came when Canseco and his wife at the time, Esther, were arguing while they were driving separate cars on the highway, and Canseco’s vehicle “rammed” into her. Canseco describes the incident as “an accident”.
Later on, Canseco married his second wife and had similar issues. He was arrested in 1997 for hitting his wife, Jessica. He would later plead no contest to a misdemeanor battery charge in early 1998, resulting in probation. Canseco claims that the media portrayed him to be this abusive character for two reasons: steroid use and Cuban heritage. He claims that growing up, you understand the Cubans are loud and expressive in this way. Regardless of the reasons, Canseco was put into difficult situations that made him one of the most controversial players the game has ever seen.
The Seismic Shift and Baseball’s Great Awakening
The whole reason why this book has become one of the most infamous sports books is because of what followed after its release. Jose Canseco’s “Juiced” changed baseball forever. Players and MLB itself faced scrutiny, and this era of baseball will forever have an asterisk beside it.
In 2005, Congress held a hearing where prominent players, including Canseco himself, McGwire, and Palmeiro, testified regarding their knowledge and use of PEDs. This became one of the most discussed topics in the news. However, players also faced heavy backlash from the media, and MLB took note of the situation.
In Jose Canseco’s “Juiced”, Canseco talks about how MLB and owners throughout the league turned their backs whenever one of their players was using PEDs. After the book’s release, many players mentioned were drug tested, and MLB implemented a heavy, harsher drug testing policy with tougher penalties.
Jose Canseco is one of the most controversial sports figures of the 20th century. Some of the claims that he made throughout the book have since been dismissed, but his claim on PEDs in baseball was largely correct. PEDs during this time were prominent among baseball players, and Canseco doesn’t blame the players.
