Luis Gonzalez: cheat?

oldgoldy97 · 08-30-2025, 05:51 AM

Did Luis Gonzalez do steroids?

dbackschamp2001 · 08-30-2025, 06:31 AM

Idk probably

hermanotarjeta · 08-30-2025, 08:04 AM

His cards sell like he did.

JustinVerlander07 · 08-30-2025, 08:08 AM

The posters of this fine forum tell me Barry Bonds went from hitting 40 to 70 because of steroids, so I don't know how these same posters are saying a guy who was a 15-20 homer guy going to almost 60 didn't do it from steroids.

oldgoldy97 · 08-30-2025, 08:17 AM

Wade Boggs maxed at 24. His next best was 11. Other than that, he was under double digits every year of his career.

Joe Mauer also had a similar aberration.

JustinVerlander07 · 08-30-2025, 08:23 AM

Oh, can't forget the Dee Gordon thread, he hit for a higher average because of steroids, not because there is this thing called luck. Same logic applies to my last post. Obviously blowout has looks of guys who are experts in the medical field and on steroids, though.

Bosoxfan5990 · 08-30-2025, 08:32 AM

Likely.

Big35Hurt · 08-30-2025, 08:59 AM

Played 18 seasons, and 16% of his career HRs came in one year with it nearly doubling his second-best career high. I am sure the ball was the only thing that was juiced that year.

DioBrando · 08-30-2025, 09:00 AM

Yes, just like 99.9% of players then

Triple B · 08-30-2025, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hermanotarjeta

His cards sell like he did.

His chewed gum sold like he didn't...he did, though.

https://venomstrikes.com/2016/04/19/...nzalez-gum-10/

Noles939913 · 08-30-2025, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustinVerlander07

The posters of this fine forum tell me Barry Bonds went from hitting 40 to 70 because of steroids, so I don't know how these same posters are saying a guy who was a 15-20 homer guy going to almost 60 didn't do it from steroids.

So he only did them for one year? Because he was back down to 28 the next year.

kyle1707 · 08-30-2025, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DioBrando

Yes, just like 99.9% of players then

This …….

JustinVerlander07 · 08-30-2025, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noles939913

So he only did them for one year? Because he was back down to 28 the next year.

You'd have to ask the experts here. I am of the opinion a lot of it is luck based because steroids aren't getting you from 30 to 57 home runs. You know what does? A lot of luck if it's an extreme outlier.

rfgilles · 08-30-2025, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldgoldy97

Wade Boggs maxed at 24. His next best was 11. Other than that, he was under double digits every year of his career.

Joe Mauer also had a similar aberration.

Boggs (29 yr) and Mauer (26 yr) were both in their 20s when they had career highs in homer. Neither crossed 30 never mind 50.

From ages 23 to 29 Luis Gonzalez never hit more than 15 home runs in a season. That's a huge sample size.

88horsepower · 08-30-2025, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldgoldy97

Wade Boggs maxed at 24. His next best was 11. Other than that, he was under double digits every year of his career.

Joe Mauer also had a similar aberration.

Reminds me of Terry Steinbach in 1996 who hit 35 home runs despite his next best season being the 16 home runs he hit in 1987, his rookie year. The dude was around Canseco and McGwire for years and never hit more than 16 home runs. I think if he were to have taken roids, it would have been when those two were in the clubhouse, not in 1996 for one single season. Outliers don't always mean PEDs were involved.

oldgoldy97 · 08-30-2025, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88horsepower

Reminds me of Terry Steinbach in 1996 who hit 35 home runs despite his next best season being the 16 home runs he hit in 1987, his rookie year. The dude was around Canseco and McGwire for years and never hit more than 16 home runs. I think if he were to have taken roids, it would have been when those two were in the clubhouse, not in 1996 for one single season. Outliers don't always mean PEDs were involved.

Good point.

Someone should do an in depth analysis of every big jump ever.

oldgoldy97 · 08-30-2025, 10:38 AM

Luis didn’t even double his previous year’s output at his career high.

Boogs tripled his previous season.

Follow the evidence.

rfgilles · 08-30-2025, 10:39 AM

Go look at the single season leaders in home runs
https://www.baseball-reference.com/l...R_season.shtml

Gonzalez is the only player on that whole list to never have a 30-homer season in his 20s.

You don't hit home runs by luck.

mfw13 · 08-30-2025, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldgoldy97

Wade Boggs maxed at 24. His next best was 11. Other than that, he was under double digits every year of his career.

Joe Mauer also had a similar aberration.

As did Brady Anderson in 1996.

More recently, Salvador Perez's 2021 season (48 HR) stands out as a bit of an outlier as well given that he's never had more than 27 in any other season.

rfgilles · 08-30-2025, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldgoldy97

Luis didn’t even double his previous year’s output at his career high.

Boogs tripled his previous season.

Follow the evidence.

Yeah because Boggs hit 8 home runs and had a much lower floor.

No idea why you are comparing a guy who hit 24 home runs to somebody who hit 57 homeruns in the peak of the steroid era.

coltsnsox07 · 08-30-2025, 10:44 AM

Well if he did they weren't very good ones, that Game 7 game winning hit off Mariano was a bloop just past the infield dirt, but it was beautiful!

88horsepower · 08-30-2025, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rfgilles

Go look at the single season leaders in home runs
https://www.baseball-reference.com/l...R_season.shtml

Gonzalez is the only player on that whole list to never have a 30-homer season in his 20s.

You don't hit home runs by luck.

And yet, he wasn't on the Mitchell Report list, was never suspended for PED usage, and no legitimate list of users has ever had his name associated. So, it would seem the burden of proof is on you to come up with a legitimate source that proves he used. Otherwise, I'm going to call the season an outlier.

rfgilles · 08-30-2025, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfw13

As did Brady Anderson in 1996.

More recently, Salvador Perez's 2021 season (48 HR) stands out as a bit of an outlier as well given that he's never had more than 27 in any other season.

You assume Brady was clean?

rfgilles · 08-30-2025, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88horsepower

And yet, he wasn't on the Mitchell Report list, was never suspended for PED usage, and no legitimate list of users has ever had his name associated. So, it would seem the burden of proof is on you to come up with a legitimate source that proves he used. Otherwise, I'm going to call the season an outlier.

Then give Sosa a pass as well.

rfgilles · 08-30-2025, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 88horsepower

Reminds me of Terry Steinbach in 1996 who hit 35 home runs despite his next best season being the 16 home runs he hit in 1987, his rookie year. The dude was around Canseco and McGwire for years and never hit more than 16 home runs. I think if he were to have taken roids, it would have been when those two were in the clubhouse, not in 1996 for one single season. Outliers don't always mean PEDs were involved.

1996, the same year Caminiti hit 40 HRs because of steroids. Any blip or outlier during the Steroid Era has to be suspected. That's just the reality of it.

08-30-2025, 05:51 AM	#1
oldgoldy97 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 50,484	Luis Gonzalez: cheat? Did Luis Gonzalez do steroids?

08-30-2025, 08:08 AM	#4
JustinVerlander07 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: michigan Posts: 17,069 gladdyontherise gladdyontherise	The posters of this fine forum tell me Barry Bonds went from hitting 40 to 70 because of steroids, so I don't know how these same posters are saying a guy who was a 15-20 homer guy going to almost 60 didn't do it from steroids. __________________ Collecting Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers, Michigan State Spartans, Miz, Jey Uso, Kelani Jordan, Macho Man, WWE "Cavs in 7. Write it down"

08-30-2025, 08:23 AM	#6
JustinVerlander07 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: michigan Posts: 17,069 gladdyontherise gladdyontherise	Oh, can't forget the Dee Gordon thread, he hit for a higher average because of steroids, not because there is this thing called luck. Same logic applies to my last post. Obviously blowout has looks of guys who are experts in the medical field and on steroids, though. __________________ Collecting Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers, Michigan State Spartans, Miz, Jey Uso, Kelani Jordan, Macho Man, WWE "Cavs in 7. Write it down"

08-30-2025, 08:32 AM	#7
Bosoxfan5990 Member Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: MA Posts: 13,851 rossisportscards	Likely. __________________ X & IG: rossisportcards. Bethel Johnson & A. Vinatieri. "A Goldin Shower of sorrow and regret." -ninjacookies (11/25/24) "I'm back." -Bosoxfan5990 (2/8/25)

08-30-2025, 09:00 AM	#9
DioBrando Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 2,587	Yes, just like 99.9% of players then __________________ 1312 no gods, no masters

08-30-2025, 06:31 AM	#2
dbackschamp2001 Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,368 parksandreselling Dbackschamp2001	Idk probably

08-30-2025, 08:04 AM	#3
hermanotarjeta Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 21,189	His cards sell like he did.

08-30-2025, 08:17 AM	#5
oldgoldy97 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 50,484	Wade Boggs maxed at 24. His next best was 11. Other than that, he was under double digits every year of his career. Joe Mauer also had a similar aberration.

08-30-2025, 08:59 AM	#8
Big35Hurt Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 9,560	Played 18 seasons, and 16% of his career HRs came in one year with it nearly doubling his second-best career high. I am sure the ball was the only thing that was juiced that year.

08-30-2025, 10:38 AM	#17
oldgoldy97 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 50,484	Luis didn’t even double his previous year’s output at his career high. Boogs tripled his previous season. Follow the evidence.

08-30-2025, 10:39 AM	#18
rfgilles Member Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 4,268	Go look at the single season leaders in home runs https://www.baseball-reference.com/l...R_season.shtml Gonzalez is the only player on that whole list to never have a 30-homer season in his 20s. You don't hit home runs by luck. __________________ BO Resident TAG Grading shill

08-30-2025, 10:44 AM	#21
coltsnsox07 Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 22,103	Well if he did they weren't very good ones, that Game 7 game winning hit off Mariano was a bloop just past the infield dirt, but it was beautiful!