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Oakland A’s: Jose Canseco makes wild accusation against Mark McGwire

By Adam Taylor McKillop

The Chicago Cubs' Sammy Sosa stands with St. Louis Cardinal's first baseman Mark McGwire between pitches after Sosa singled in the second inning 28 May, 1999, at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. It was the first time the pair had played each other since last year's home run race. The Cubs won 6-3 with help from a home run from Sosa. AFP PHOTO/John ZICH (Photo by JOHN ZICH / AFP) (Photo credit should read JOHN ZICH/AFP via Getty Images)
The Chicago Cubs' Sammy Sosa stands with St. Louis Cardinal's first baseman Mark McGwire between pitches after Sosa singled in the second inning 28 May, 1999, at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. It was the first time the pair had played each other since last year's home run race. The Cubs won 6-3 with help from a home run from Sosa. AFP PHOTO/John ZICH (Photo by JOHN ZICH / AFP) (Photo credit should read JOHN ZICH/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Jose Canseco is seen mostly as a pariah across the MLB landscape. Not only did the former 17-year MLB veteran admit to his own steroid use, but he essentially blew the entire cover off the league’s “Steroid Era” with his book titled Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant ‘Roids, Smash Hits & How Baseball Got Big. In 2005, when Canseco released this book, it sent shockwaves throughout the game as he even named former Oakland A’s teammate Mark McGwire as a guilty party.

Certainly, there’s no love lost between the Bash Brothers. However, if there was any chance of resolving this relationship, that’s over now. Canseco took to Twitter Friday night to make another accusation against his former teammate McGwire. This one is a bit more “wild” than his previous claims.

Jose Canseco accuses former Oakland A’s Mark McGwire of corking his bat throughout his career

In terms of the public eye, Canseco now spends the majority of his days making rather ridiculous claims on Twitter. He’s a bonafide Bigfoot believer and even flirted with the idea of running for president. But, it’s hard to argue with anything he says about the game of baseball.

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At the time he released his book back in 2005, the league and its fans had no idea how to react to his accusations over rampant steroid use. Years later, Canseco’s claims that 85 percent of the league used performance-enhancing drugs while he played have largely proven true.

This truth was hard to hear, but some credit is due for Canseco shining a light on the league’s darkest era. For now, there’s zero evidence backing his most recent claim over McGwire’s corked bat. But, it’s possible, right?

One may wonder if Canseco has some personal vendetta against his former Oakland A’s teammate. Perhaps he felt overshadowed as McGwire went on to hit more than 100 more home runs throughout his MLB career. And, of course, McGwire once held the title as MLB’s home-run king after hitting 70 long balls during the 1998 season.

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Regardless, the reputation of the Bash Brothers is forever tarnished. In fact, and for better or for worse, the reputation of the entire league during the 1980s and 90s is tarnished. The “Steroid Era” is behind us, and whatever part that Jose Canseco played in helping that happen is the best thing he’s ever done.

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