At Home Plate - Book Review: Bases Loaded - The inside story of the steroid era in baseball by the central figure in the Mitchell Report

At Home Plate

Book Review: Bases Loaded - The inside story of the steroid era in baseball by the central figure in the Mitchell Report

Written by At Home Plate Staff (Contact & Archive) on June 14, 2009

There are so many books about the steroid era in baseball that it’s hard to determine what is true, what are lies, and even what really happened. That in many cases make Radomski’s book a little bit unique. Here is the story of steroids told by an insider, the one most often blamed as the central figure involved in bringing steroids to the game.

Hudson Street Press - 246 pages

While it is definitely a self serving, not to mention self promoting book, Radomski does manage to give us a peek inside the heads and locker rooms of baseball during this time, as well as caution us that the steroid era in baseball is far from over. In doing so it takes us from the very beginning of his days as a clubhouse boy for the New York Mets up through his arrest and subsequent use as a informer for the FBI and his connection with the Mitchell Report - the black eye baseball inadvertently gave itself by opening a probe it fully expected to go nowhere.

Radomski tries hard to shed his image of a sleazy back alley drug dealer who corrupted the game by telling us the truth of how things happened from his perspective, including how he protected many players, often big name players, from themselves, by teaching them to use steroids responsibly and dodge those which might have been even more dangerous. He goes so far as to claim, possibly truthfully, that he never really made much in the way of money for his efforts, but mainly did it out of a sense of kinship for several players, many of who referred him to their friends.

If you are reading this expecting to find bombshells in the story you’ll likely be disappointed, plenty of names are bandied about, but few if any are new names. However there are some chunks of the book which are in fact pretty interesting including the how Radomski turned out to be the poster child for Mitchell Report and why so much of it focuses on details provided by him and Brian McNamee.

Radomski himself comes off as a very disillusioned individual who never got all caught on by the love of the game and learned all to soon that these “idols” of millions were men riddled with flaws, ambition and insecurity who’d do what they had to earn their millions or in rare less mercenary cases just to have another season or two playing the game they love. Through it all Radomski portrays himself as a friend and confidant to players all over baseball - many of whom have done their best to wash their hands of association with him since he was arrested.
Yet, clearly quite a few of them knew him, had association with him, and did business with him as shown by the cancelled checks and shipping receipts he provided to Senator Mitchell during his probe of the game. That may be the thing which gives Radomski the most credibility in the telling of his story. It’s not particularly compelling, nor is Radomski particularly likable (although he tries hard to cast himself that way) but it might well be the most honest book written about the inside details of the steroid era available.

He ends the book with a few important notes - that the steroid era is really far from over in the game and that the testing policy (as I’ve stated a number of times here on this site) is really a joke. Players dodge it, and the use of PEDs is still fairly rampant in the game today, and that is especially true of HGH (Human Growth Hormone).

Interestingly enough during the investigation, the Mitchell Report and this book, Radomski has never stopped being an advocate of HGH as a safe and useful drug for just about everyone.

The book is worth a read, but is hardly one of the best baseball books you can read - but give it two of four balls because it tells a story from the inside like no other book on baseball and steroids has been able to do.

Recommend article:

Comments (35)

Indeed there are many books about the steroid era in baseball and I can figure out why. I think that most of them have a point. More and more sportsmen use steroids despite the health problem they can make. This is alarming; someone should start an anti-steroids campaign!

I wanted to thank you for this excellent read!!

This article is really useful! I have been searching for some information about the home plate and accidentally I have noticed this headline. As I see, this site is full of more such great posts like this one so I will definitely bookmark it. Thanks a lot one more time.

My dear friends, do you want to live in a warm winter? We will help you!
We are international trade that specializes in the Moncler Jackets.They are more and more popular among people. The latest styles of Moncler Coats are on large sales now. Many different shapes and styles will fit you. Our products are authentic quality with original box.

The latest styles of Moncler Coats are on large sales now. Many different shapes and styles will fit you. Our products are authentic quality with original box. Discount Moncler Coats will cost you less money. I am sure that Moncler Coats online shopping is your best choice. So, please don’t hesitate, just contact us for details to get the cheap Moncler Jackets! We will be your reliable business partner!

aSry Moncler worth ladies Doudoune Moncler Enfant given cellular lining is very complicated lowering Doudoune Moncler Pas Cher and in addition help interior number Moncler Outlet or even person hosting persons use it. Moncler women lengthy quilts possess Doudoune Moncler grow to be well-known and a lot of considering that cool vigorous Moncler visual aspect. It's a few prior to data compresion Spaccio Moncler Trebaseleghe putting leg protection pocket or purse within the leading refrigerator. Just about all Moncler Daunenjacke aspects topcoat brand Moncler will provide considered in just as the draw Moncler Shop Wien on the inside perfect area round the quit devices.

Real steroid abuse is actually very rare.Where do we find steroid abuse? Well, typically, we find that steroid abuse is highest in those who are uneducated about their effects and side effects.This group crosses the line between abuse and use, by mistake.Typically, abuse is also dose-dependent, and what this means is that steroids remain useful and continue to help the user until a certain threshold is passed, meaning the dose gets too high.At this point, the user has crossed the line into abuse.So, when we look at healthy athletes who are emotionally and psychologically stable, we don´t see much real "abuse".What we typically see is the use of steroids helping to prolong a career or stave off injury.We can't say that athletes don't know about the side effects.It's just that need for psychological comfort is bigger than the fear of the consequences.That's what makes this addiction so strong and why a specialized treatment is needed.

The side effects of steroids include among others,high blood pressure, increased LDL (bad) cholesterol, decreased HDL (good) cholesterol, fluid retention, abnormal liver function and prostate enlargement, just to name a few. Whether the goal is an increase in physical size, strength, speed or stamina, in the mind of an abuser, it is a worthwhile endeavor, regardless of the risk. This kind of psychological addiction on something that it's clearly bad for you is the answer for all those that think that steroids aren't that bad and that the usage is a personal choice.Think again.

Louis Vuitton outlet

When you looking for the louis vuitton handbags online, then the most important thing you need to take into consideration is that the quality of these louis vuitton outlet. We all know the bags that are unique design in materials and the classic design in appearance that so that appeal so many people. And we suggest you to come to our louis vuitton online store, which one has already sold these designer bags for many years, and earn high reputation. Just come here to buy the excellent louis vuitton handbags. http://www.louisvuittonbags-malls.com

Louis Vuitton outlet

Thanks. some great infomation here keep up the good work. I cannot really leave a more constructive comment as i''''m abit out of my deph but i will be checking back here for further updates

This is very informative post and helpful for those who are searching for it.I away get wonderful information from your blog.I hope you will provide more information in future.Thank you for sharing.

Recent articles. I think this is the most beautiful in the world the article, there must be many people like it your works will get everyone recognized you is the best I will always support you

Yeah~~~~~~~~~~`This has nothing to do with layers. You can either individually select or window select objects to be isolated or hidden. Good!!!!!!!!!!!!

Recent articles. I think this is the most beautiful in the world the article, there must be many people like it your works will get everyone recognized you is the best I will always support you

Accutane is available purely using a great scheme also known as iPLEDGE. You should be subscribedin your method and then sign docs proclaiming that you are aware of the dangers of the particular treatment so you conform to start using pregnancy prevention just like necessary for the system. Ask a doctor as well as get in touch with the drug manufacturer when you have doubts about the method as well as composed conditions.

I was just looking for this info for a while. After six hours of continuous Googleing, at last I got it in your site. I wonder what is the Google's issue that does not rank this type of informative sites closer to the top. Generally the top sites are full of garbage.

This is very informative post and helpful for those who are searching for it.I away get wonderful information from your blog.I hope you will provide more information in future.Thank you for sharing.

Nice!!! It's really very informative article, I really appreciate your thoughts.I obviously enjoying and I also bookmarked & i will visit again in future updates.

I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post

I actually agree with that, the good practice and outstanding professionalism in that kind of important stuff, makes a huge difference!

I came to your article from another article and am really interested in this learning about this. , I feel strongly about information and love learning more on this. If possible, as you gain expertise, It is extremely helpful for me. would you mind updating your blog with more information?

Very good post with informative information. I really appreciate the fact that you approach these topics from a stand point of knowledge and information. This is the first time, I visited at your site and became your fan. You are bookmarked. Please keep on posting.

They're going to think it certainly is their particular reside up as well to acquire it all but will support a standard workforce to comprehend fire. When you're in inclusion your loony baseball admirer which holds up a selected squad as well as state, you need to such as the idea of making mementos of one's dearest staff.

Interestingly enough during the investigation, the Mitchell Report and this book, Radomski has never stopped being an advocate of HGH as a safe and useful drug for just about everyone.

I have been assigned to do a report for our school newspaper on this subject, and your post has been beneficial. Can you please add more reference to this topic, thanks.

This is one of the enjoyable post.I a so happy to read about your post.This is one of the nice Post.Thanks for sharing with us.

Buy here I use the Detox headphones whenever I want to really hear. beats by dre carry in all of the dietary habits from all varieties of music, which creates you excited, moved, and in some cases sad, cheerful, your center experiences extra than ahead of furthermore it obtains extra mature and stronger.In 2008, Monster Company and Grammy Awards winner Doctor. beats by dre Its list price in two forms: one with ControlTalk device without
Extreme comfort is definitely music in head usingmonster beats by dr.I would endorse getting the Beat Tour in case you'reon the lookout for a beginner luxury earbud. beats by dre On the additional hand, on the appropriate earcup there's the on off switch and "b" logo button too, beats by dre push the option and you may pause the tunes message boards in your function and also the Noise Reduction function. It is user-friendly! beats by dre The ultra-soft capable cushions can keep you interesting while enjoying the music, decreasing perspiration.Ahead of not owning the earphone solution, also has the very lots of music followers to grasp the Monster brand the wire rod superior. moncler The Monster Beats have perhaps a long earpieces we've ever seen.Beats By Dre studio ored Diddybeats Better Proficiency Headsets By employing Controltalk Shiny animal diddybeats inear headsets, moncler with regards to controltalk shiny Relaxing along just about every biggest animal provides multiple advances over health care provider dre headsets Diddybeats complete through, moncler just about every highest degrees very helpful glance amazing through just about every same instant,like the Beats.

I am currently working on an assignment and I have been exploring your blog for a few hours. Thank you for your post it proved helpful for me.

You have written a very impressive post providing highly valuable information. You have a very good feel for getting the right information out to the people through blogs.

I thank you for your sharing represents Christian lonbout, we will continue to share the your resources expect your friends, more excellent article!