Mo Vaughn Admits to HGH Use Late in MLB Career; Red Sox Hall of Famer Won 1995 AL MVP

Former Boston Red Sox, Anaheim Angels and New York Mets slugger Mo Vaughn publicly admitted to using human growth hormone (HGH) during his playing career.

"I was trying to do everything I could," Vaughn told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic in an interview published Monday. "I knew I had a bad, degenerative knee. I was shooting HGH in my knee. Whatever I could do to help the process."

Rosenthal noted the Mitchell report disclosed in 2007 that Vaughn purchased HGH three different times in 2001. The Mitchell Report was written by former United States Sen. George J. Mitchell when former MLB commissioner Bud Selig wanted a detailed report on the use of performance-enhancing substances in the game.

Vaughn last played during the 2003 season, which is notable because MLB did not ban HGH until 2005 after he was retired for multiple years.

Former Mets clubhouse employee Kirk Radomski said in the Mitchell Report "he did not sell Vaughn steroids because Vaughn was 'afraid of the big needles.'"

The three-time All-Star dealt with injuries in the latter part of his career that lasted from 1991 to 2003.

He suffered an ankle and knee injury during the 1999 season opener, which was his first year with the Angels. He also missed the 2001 campaign because of a ruptured biceps tendon and was forced out of the game in May 2003 due to his knee troubles.

Vaughn told Rosenthal that the injuries and not his inclusion in the Mitchell Report was why he distanced himself from baseball for a time during his retirement until his son helped him return to the game.

He also told Rosenthal he believes his legacy remains intact despite his inclusion in the Mitchell Report and admitted use of HGH later in his career.

While Vaughn played for the Angels and Mets in his final seasons, he was best known for his time on the Red Sox from 1991 through 1998. He was a three-time All-Star and Silver Slugger with six straight seasons of 26 or more home runs during that span.

He also took home the 1995 American League MVP while slashing .300/.388/.575 with 39 home runs and a league-best 126 RBI for a Boston team that won the AL East but lost in the playoffs.

Vaughn was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2008.