OT:A-Rod Tested Positive for two Anabolic Steroids in 2003

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Posted By: Stephen Mitchell

marty q:

The "1984 or so" was based on my suspicions that Jose Canseco (whom I thought was the originator of steriods in MLB) would have been using at least a year or two before making it to the majors. Canseco debuted in 1985.

It turns out that steroids use (from my limited research this evening) goes back much earlier. From the website TheSteroidsEra (http://thesteroidera.blogspot.com/2006/08/baseballs-steroid-era-timeline.html), I learned that former major league pitcher and pitching instructor TOM HOUSE admits to what appears to be the earliest use of steroids - although, as you will see, he was not alone:

Tom House May 2005
Admitted Using: Steroids (Non-specific)
What he said: In a telephone interview with San Fransisco Chronicle reporter, Ron Kroichick, House admitted to using steroids for a couple of seasons during his career (1971-1978). House estimated that six or seven pitchers on every staff in baseball were experimenting with steroids in the 1970s. This was, and still is, the earliest account of steroid use in baseball. Houses admission and comments are from a May 3, 2005 San Fransisco Chronicle article entitled House a 'failed experiment' with steroids.