2003 Steroids in Baseball: Not So Hidden Secrets

Six years later and the circus is back in town. Millions of taxpayer dollars have been spent to prove what most of us have already know: Major League Baseball had a problem with performance-enhancing drugs.

Barry Bonds is under federal indictment, Alex Rodriguez has admitted to using them, and Roger Clemens refuses to admit what supposed evidence disputes. 

The quest to make the top dollar drove some players to use performance-enhancing drugs and, with others, just the drive to continue their fading careers in the Major Leagues.

But, at what cost to the fans as well as the players' own personal health? 

Trust is lost in America's game yet once again. One hundred and four names are on a secret list for testing positive in a 2003 sample test to determine if there was a real problem with performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball.

We already know Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Rafael Palmeiro, Juan Gonzalez, Randy Velarde, Ken Caminiti, John Rocker, Ismael Valdez, and Andy Pettitte are all on this secret list. Most have admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs.

Who else is on the list? Now that names have been leaked, why hold back at A-Rod?  Let's find out if any of our other heroes are frauds as well.

With the 2003 American and National League Most Valuable Players already on the list, let's look at other award winners from the season that will go into history with an asterisk.

Roy Halladay

American League Cy Young Award winner two years after being sent back to the minors. Won 22 games and pitched nine complete games.

Eric Gagne

National League Cy Young Award winner, 55 saves for the Dodgers, had a good season in 2004, and then injuries have slowed the remainder of his career despite being only 33 years old.  Named in the Mitchell Report in 2008.

Bret Boone

American League Gold Glove winner facing the end of his career. Went from 24 home runs to 35 in 2003. Played only two more years.

Andres Galarraga

Playing at the end of his career, had his best batting season in four years. Trying to keep up with teammate Barry Bonds.

There are many more names we may never know about, but these are just a few I feel are also on this secret list. 

Knowing now that almost 700 players were tested and 15 percent of them have tested positive for using performance-enhancing drugs, the 2003 season should officially go into the record books with an asterisk.