Baseball's Long, Complicated Relationship with Performance Drugs

For over a century, baseball has grappled with the use of substances, both legal and illicit, to enhance performance, manage pain, and prolong careers. This history, often shadowed by scandal, is a testament to the intense pressures of the sport and the enduring desire to gain a competitive edge. From rudimentary elixirs to modern pharmaceuticals, the pursuit of improvement has been a constant, shaping the game's culture and challenging its integrity.

The Early Days: From Monkey Glands to the Diamond

The late 19th century saw baseball's first recorded experiment with performance enhancement. Pitcher Pud Galvin, nearing the end of his career, publicly received an injection of an extract from animal testicles, based on the theories of Dr. Charles-Édouard Brown-Séquard. This unconventional remedy, aimed at boosting strength and virility, seemed to have an immediate effect, with Galvin pitching a shutout the following day.

This incident, while met with curiosity rather than condemnation at the time, foreshadowed a long and complex relationship between baseball and chemical assistance.

The Rise of Amphetamines: "Greenies" and the Grinding Season

Following World War II, amphetamines, commonly known as "greenies," became ubiquitous in baseball clubhouses. These stimulants helped players combat fatigue, maintain focus, and endure the grueling 162-game season. Players like Willie Mays reportedly kept liquid amphetamines in their lockers.

Jim Bouton's tell-all book, Ball Four, revealed the open availability of amphetamines, highlighting their role in helping players push through the daily grind. The stimulant wasn't making you physically stronger, but provided the mental edge to continue. The unrelenting schedule of baseball – the travel, doubleheaders, and constant pressure to perform – made amphetamines a tempting solution for many players seeking to stay in the lineup.

The Dark Side: Cocaine, LSD, and the 1980s

The 1980s brought a new wave of substance abuse, with cocaine becoming prevalent in baseball. The Pittsburgh drug trials exposed a league where dealers had easy access to clubhouses, and players could readily obtain the drug. Several prominent players, including Keith Hernandez and Tim Raines, admitted to cocaine use.

Beyond cocaine, stories like Dock Ellis's LSD-fueled no-hitter highlighted the bizarre and dangerous extremes to which players were willing to go. Ellis later regretted his drug use, acknowledging that it had robbed him of a genuine professional memory.

The Steroid Era: Power, Records, and Controversy

The late 1990s and early 2000s witnessed the rise of steroids and human growth hormone (HGH) in baseball. Players like Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa achieved record-breaking home run totals, fueling excitement but also raising suspicions. While MLB banned steroids in 1991, serious testing wasn't implemented until years later, following congressional pressure and whistleblower accounts.

The Mitchell Report in 2007 exposed widespread steroid use, naming dozens of players and highlighting the league's failure to address the issue proactively.

Modern Challenges: Adderall and the Opioid Crisis

In the aftermath of the steroid era, Adderall, a stimulant used to treat ADHD, quietly gained prominence in baseball. Therapeutic-use exemptions for Adderall increased dramatically, with a significantly higher rate among major league players compared to the general population.

The tragic death of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs from a fentanyl-laced pill underscored the growing opioid crisis in baseball. The subsequent trial highlighted the team's alleged negligence in allowing a known addict to provide drugs to players. This tragedy prompted MLB to add opioid testing and treatment referrals, a move that critics argue came too late.

The Underlying Culture: Pain, Pressure, and the Pursuit of Excellence

Throughout baseball's history, the driving force behind substance use has been the relentless pressure to perform, manage pain, and prolong careers. The sport's culture often romanticizes toughness and the ability to play through injuries, creating an environment where players may feel compelled to use drugs to stay on the field.

Baseball's unique mythology of purity and its role as the "national pastime" make its struggles with substance abuse particularly jarring. While other sports have addressed their drug problems, baseball continues to grapple with its chemical history, often reacting to tragedy rather than proactively addressing the underlying issues.

Looking Ahead: A Continuous Cycle?

As the Skaggs trial concludes, baseball faces the ongoing challenge of balancing performance enhancement with player safety and ethical conduct. The cycle of reform, scandal, and renewed efforts at regulation seems destined to continue, driven by the enduring pressures of the sport and the unwavering desire to gain a competitive edge.