Barry Bonds and steroids? Implications...

RG58

Not meaning to make any false accusations regarding Barry Bonds and the use of steroids... but I think this topic would be a great thread considering the recent news today that his personal trainer has admitted to distributing steroids to several key-athletes he worked with (not necessarily Bonds keep in mind!)

I believe in innocence until proven guilty.

A quick review of Bonds baseball cards starting from 1986 onward show his dramatic increase in size/muscle to comic book dimensions. Many of us have our own opinions of this morphology change over the years. Are we in denial?

What are the implications to the statistics, hobby industry, hall of fame, price of high grade rookie cards, etc.

For instance, if you just spent a thousand bucks on a psa 10 rookie of Bonds, and he is implicated in steroid abuse and found guilty as charged in the next few years... what would happen to Bonds, baseball, and the value of your investment! Is it risky to be investing in high grade cards of this present day baseball hero ( who tomorrow may be involved in the drug scandal of the decade!)??????

A different perspective... perhaps if Bonds was found guilty of steroid abuse... possibly the price of his cards would go up given that the hobby seems to like the "bad boys" of baseball (Rose, Shoeless Joe Jackson come to mind!)

RG58

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/balco1.html

danandkat

Hmmm. The only name I see on the court documents is Gary Sheffield. Yet Bonds is guilty?? Funny.

Thanks
Dan

RG58

Read my post- I didn't say he was guilty. However the newspapers and news internet sites are associating him with this trainer and putting out headlines that have implications possibly on baseball card prices. ("Bonds trainer says he gave steroids to major leaguers")

RTB

I have no Bonds cards or any other modern cards... just a fan. My take is that this issue will hurt Bonds a lot in the court of public opinion. I mean, he puts on about 60 lbs, hits 73 homers when the most he ever had previously was in the 40s, and his personal trainer admits to providing steroids to "baseball players". Umm... you do the math.

koby

I agree with RTB in that where Bonds will be hurt is in the public's perception of him. MLB is not going to do anything to Bonds or Sosa or any of the other MLB star as that would only upset the fans.

jimtb

I remember reading an article about Bonds during hi 73 homer year. It said his hat size had gone up to full sizes in recent years. If you look at a video of him from the early 1990's and compare it today, the guy is HUGE. Has he done steroids? I would guess yes.

34GoudeyCollector

If he has or not is yet to be proven. As stated above, though, the perception the fans have will be the killer for him.

Ken

PlayBall

If Bonds should be found guilty, should there be an asterisk by the number 73 in the record book, like was done with Maris?

34GoudeyCollector

It would at least tarnish the record, wouldn't you think...

Ken

gemint

Did anyone see McGwire in the golf challenge in December? He looked like he did as a rookie. Gone was the Schwartzenneger physique which was replaced with a small pot belly and a very average looking build. Hmmm.

shagrotn77

Gemint,

Good catch. McGwire looked the same way at the AS Game a few years ago, like a balloon that had deflated quite a bit. Don't get me wrong, I really like Big Mac. He did a lot for the sport. But if you think McGwire, Bonds and a whole host of other star players did not do steroids, you are in complete denial.

Shag