Do pictures speak louder than reports? In the case of the "juiced era" of baseball, we wanted to find out. Hearing about allegations of steroid and human growth hormone use is one thing, but seeing a significant change in muscle mass, for example, is an entirely different perspective altogether. With the help of our photo editors, we dug into the archives and decided to compare what stars linked to performance-enhancing drugs looked like later in their career compared to their younger days.The visual results are after the jump.
Please note that not all of these current and former players have been tied conclusively to performance-enhancing drug use. Some were simply linked by various reports, or even by Jose Canseco in his tell-all book Juiced. This is simply an experiment and the results are in no way intended to be definitive.
Check out the gallery below to see what the photo evidence revealed, and let us know which comparisons took you for a loop in the comments section.
A Look at Musclebound MLB
From scathing reports to leaked court documents, the wave of performance-enhancing drug use in baseball has allegedly included everyone from Barry Bonds to Rick Ankiel. But how do stars look today compared to their younger playing days? Click through to see how Bonds and other accused players appear under the muscle microscope.
Getty Images
Jose Canseco
Former AL MVP, six-time All-Star
Tie to PEDs: In 2005, Canseco admitted to using anabolic steroids in a tell-all book dubbed 'Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits and How Baseball Got Big.'
Getty Images
Bret Boone
Three-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glover
Tie to PEDs: According to Canseco's book 'Juiced,' Boone admitted to him that he used steroids, but Boone has denied the book's allegations.
Getty Images
Lenny Dykstra
Former World Series champion, three-time All-Star
Tie to PEDs: In December 2007, Dykstra was named in the Mitchell Report on steroid use. The report cited multiple sources, including Kirk Radomski, who stated Dykstra used anabolic steroids during career.
Getty Images
David Segui
Former first baseman and 15-year MLB veteran
Tie to PEDs: Segui has admitted to using anabolic steroids during his career, obtaining them from former clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski.
Getty Images
Mark McGwire
World Series champ and 12-time All-Star
Tie to PEDs: Canseco claimed in 'Juiced' that McGwire had been using performance-enhancing drugs since the 1980s. In January 2009, McGwire's brother Jay circulated a book proposal entitled 'The McGwire Family Secret,' in which he stated that McGwire used human growth Hormone and Deca-Durabolin.
Getty Images
Ken Caminiti
Former NL MVP and three-time All-Star
Tie to PEDs: In a Sports Illustrated cover story in 2002, Caminiti admitted that he had used steroids during his 1996 MVP season, and for several seasons afterwards.
Getty Images / AP
John Rocker
Former closer and six-year MLB veteran
Tie to PEDs: During an Atlanta radio interview in February 2008, Rocker said "Bud Selig knew in the year 2000 John Rocker was taking the juice." Rocker's publicist, Debi Curzio said that Rocker admitted taking HGH, but only for medical reasons.
Getty Images / AP
Rick Ankiel
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher turned slugger
Tie to PEDs: Ankiel admitted to using HGH, but said he was following doctor's orders as he tried to recover from Tommy John surgery.
AP
Miguel Tejada
Former MVP and five-time All-Star
Tie to PEDs: Tejada was mentioned in the Mitchell Report in connection to steroids. According to the report, Tejada received $1,500 worth of steroids.
AP / Getty Images
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
3-13-2009 @ 2:42AM
the cooker said...
Tom, I understand where you are coming from, but who looks the same 10- 20 years later? We all are fairly convinced that Barry and Roger did it but lets be honest that weight training is a lot more advanced than it was in 1990. To just say that every person that looks different is juiced just is not fair.
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3-13-2009 @ 3:12AM
Andrew said...
Yea, but all the people in the gallery have been connected to steroids in writing (not just idle fan speculation) one way or another.
The funny thing is that not everyone looks all that different.
3-13-2009 @ 3:12AM
dave said...
not many pictures to choose from or something? this is like darden having oj try on the glove, man! proof = not in this pudding...
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3-13-2009 @ 3:47AM
blkhwks83j said...
Come on your'e comparing Bonds at 20 to Bonds now. I would look the same as Bonds does if you compared my picture at 20ish to now at age 43. The pictures mean nothing. I didn't have the near double chin I have now when I was a cross country runner in college. I never used steroids. I agree Bonds is a cheater and most likely used 'roids, but this comparison is ridiculous.
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3-13-2009 @ 3:56AM
Tom Herrera said...
blkhwks83j -- that's why I labeled it an experiment, not trying to prove anything. Obviously a lot of these guys are going to look different simply through advanced weight training, and not necessarily due to PEDs. All of the guys have been reportedly linked in some way though, so I was curious to see what the difference is from a visual standpoint, separate from what performance was.
3-13-2009 @ 4:39AM
Dr Huxtable said...
I agree that all of those guys used roids, but your picture selection was terrible. Most of the post roid pictures were zoomed in compared to the pre-roids pics.
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3-13-2009 @ 6:37AM
adam1474 said...
dont fool yourself - this steriod problem is a lot larger then anyone knows - the league should give a 30 day 'get out of jail free card' to anyone willing to abmit they used steriods or performance enhancers in the last 10 years - after the 30 days if you have not come clean and are found to have used the player should be kicked out of baseball forever - time to clean up the game - isnt fun anymore
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3-13-2009 @ 7:40AM
kayla said...
ok you can tell barry is on steriods his arms are huge compared to the other pic adn the guy who said he was 20 and would look huge at 40 no u wouldnt u dont get stronger or bigger as ur older
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3-13-2009 @ 6:52PM
REG BACHER said...
are you telling me you are not stronger than you were in highschool you do get stronger as you age
3-13-2009 @ 7:48AM
kayla said...
jose canseco deff was on steroids his arms are huge compared to the other pics
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3-13-2009 @ 9:01AM
ed344mu said...
Of course you can get stronger and bigger as you get older if you go on a weight training program. Many baseball and basketball players did not train with weights because of the fear of becoming "muscled bound." It really wasn't until the mid 80s that athletes in these sports began to train both in and out of their seasons. As a male matures he can put on more muscle until his mid 30s. Probably after that time the best he can hope for is to keep his body toned.
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3-13-2009 @ 10:19AM
clubberj said...
Thanks for the pictures of a young player versus an older player. Not much proof here, except people uaually get bigger and their faces get broader as they age. Why don't you look at pictures of yourself when you were young, and your friends. See the difference?
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3-13-2009 @ 10:57AM
cdeadbeat said...
ewww,if we are going by looks,then it looks like im guilty also...i was 135 when i graduated...after 7 yrs in the millitary,i put on 30 pounds...its called working out...AND BESIDES, IT WASNT ILLEGAL THEN.........GET OVER IT
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3-13-2009 @ 11:10AM
grollmaster said...
I don't know...some of the pictures just look like the players are much older and fatter. It happens with age. I don't deny that a lot of pros are using, but these pics are not a very good indicator in that, if a guy is doin 'roids and working out, he will become HUGE within a years time. That would be more of an indicator, in my opinion
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3-13-2009 @ 12:41PM
Art said...
They really pay this guy to write this stuff? We are in an economic downturn and this guy's still employed?!
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3-13-2009 @ 12:53PM
Mark said...
These pictures dont mean a thing. I moved to a different city about 10 years ago weighing 160 pounds soaking wet. The job I got was very physical and from that and diet I now weigh 200 pounds and I dont even work out. So someone who does would easily get bigger and stronger.
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3-13-2009 @ 12:53PM
jeff said...
WELCOME TO 5 YEARS AGO YOU MORON MEDIA ATTENTION WHORE
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3-13-2009 @ 12:56PM
bobby said...
BONDS IS A DISGRACE .I SAY BAN BARRY AND ROGER FROM THE HALL OF FAME
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3-13-2009 @ 1:46PM
Nick said...
I definitely agree ! You can't equate using 'juice', making someone bulk-up. I'm not a user, not even a smoker, but I did bulk-up. Friends will not recognize me from my ten-year or so ago self.
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3-13-2009 @ 2:10PM
jle615 said...
Add their stats to the before and after pictures and you can tell who's on roids. Bonds increased his HR output during his late 30's-40's. Can't be done. The Babe was going downhill, as should be expected, at that age.
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