Nine former Atlanta Braves players are among dozens of major leaguers named in a report linking them to steroid use in baseball.
Hall of Famers David Justice and Braves broadcaster Joe Simpson pose at their induction. (Atlanta Braves)
The names include David Justice, Gary Sheffield, John Rocker and Mike Stanton. Justice was just inducted into the Braves’ Hall of Fame this summer. His alleged connection to steroids was said to have occured while with the Yankees in 2000 and 2001. The other former Braves in the report: Denny Neagle, Paul Byrd, Kent Mercker, Todd Pratt, and Matt Franco.
The ex-Braves are among 80-plus past and present major leaguers listed in the long-awaited Mitchell Report. It’s the investigation commissioned by baseball to uncover how widespread performance-enchancing drug use is in the game.
Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell led the 20-month investigation. At a news conference earlier today, Mitchell said everyone involved in baseball the past two decades is responsible to some extent for the steroids era.
Of the big names around baseball named, those include current Yankees Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte. The game’s home run king, Barry Bonds, is named--he’s under federal indictment for lying to a grand jury concerning steroid use.
Mitchell’s recommendation to baseball is to hold-off on punishment of players except in cases where conduct so serious calls for discipline to preserve the integrity of the game.
