Nolan Ryan affirms what most people think: baseball's steroid era changed the landscape

Nolan Ryan noticed a profound change in the power hitters.  And he retired in 1993.  Ryan addresses the path of baseball in a recent talk.  Report here at the Dallas Morning News (link having trouble; try this link if the Morning-News link is down)

ROUND ROCK, Texas — Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan said today that steroid use in baseball a decade ago likely was more rampant than the sport would like to admit.

Speaking at the Southwest Region meetings of the Associated Press Sports Editors, Ryan told of returning to the Houston Astrodome to attend games in the years after his retirement in 1993.

“There were people hitting the ball into the upper deck in batting practice,” Ryan said. “And I never saw that. One of three things was different. The ball was different, the bat was different or the players were different.”

Big deal or no big deal.  Ryan says big deal: 

Ryan, 60, now a special assistant to the general manager of the Astros, said he thought steroid use has been a “big stain” on almost all sports.

“It probably has impacted baseball more than any other sport, mostly because of the history of the game,” said Ryan, who retired with 5,714 strikeouts and 324 wins.

“There were benchmarks that when approached were indicative of what kind of season a player was having. Steroids has changed that.”

To reiterate, Ryan points out what many have said: the benchmarks have changed (this quote thanks to the AP):

"...the game has benchmarks that are truly a mark of the type of year someone was having, or their career," he said, adding that 600 career homers should now be the benchmark that 500 used to be.

Should Barry Bonds, the premier slugger of the past 2 decades be honored?  Yes, according to Ryan.

Ryan, though, said he thought that San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds should be applauded as he approaches baseball’s career record of 755 home runs. Bonds has 745 home runs, but he has been dogged by allegations of steroid use that have not been proven.

“His accomplishment should be recognized no matter what the cloud is,” Ryan said. “He has accomplished that. No matter what the circumstances are, you still have to hit the ball.”          

In his 27-season career, Ryan pitched to Bonds and to Hank Aaron, whose  home run record is about to fall.

And give Ryan a Clemens-like contract:

Although he's 60 and walks with a limp, Nolan Ryan says he would be happy to listen if any team offered a deal like his pal Roger Clemens got.

Ryan said  "If I can pitch, I'd be there."

Comments

[doofman]

"One of three things was different. The ball was different, the bat was different or the players were different.”

Well, it just so happens that there's fairly strong evidence that the first two are true. I know he's trying to imply the third by suggesting the improbability of the first two, but in this case, he actually manages to prove the opposite point: namely a LOT of things changed in the late 80's and early 90's (and he didn't even mention all the new ballparks), and to single out steroids as the sole cause of anything is a fool's errand..

The Nation responds: Remember we are looking at quotes from Ryan, and not the actual dialogue. I even saw differences in the quotes between the Dallas News and the AP. It was somewhat difficult to write up the story.

I suspect Ryan knows that there are many reasons behind the power surge including the factors you mentioned above.

thanks

[Jay M]

I find it tough to beleive that Ryan was NOT using steroids himself, hucking 90 plus at his age. Plenty of shoulder surgeries wit triumphant comebacks seem to endorse my thinking. I think the world of him as a pitcher, and as a slugger (hitting robin ventura on a mound rush....) haha.
He is my absolute favorite, but to eliminate him from any thoughts of steroid use just seems foolish to me.

[Anon]

I just saw a few video clips of him in 1989, and his musculature does look suspect (compared to what he looked like earlier in his career). Then again, it could've been the tight uniforms. But I don't know. I'd like to think not, but. ... Some good points, Jay.