Here are some of Jose’s greatest fans!
Dan
Hey, my name is Dan. I’m from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I’ve been A big Jose Canseco fan since 1986 when he came into the league. I’ve followed his career, and it was a treat to see him in person when he came to Toronto. I’ve went to a lot of game here in Toronto, and the best moment was seeing Jose hit his first homerun as a Blue jay in 1998. the feeling was amazing, I had a big smile on my face for days. My ultimate collectible was getting a 1986 rookie uniform of Jose Canseco and to actually talk to Jose about the jersey. It was the best to talk to Jose, he was the nicest guy. Here is a photo of me and the Canseco Rookie uniform. Thanks Jose for making my dream come true, to talk to you and to have your rookie uniform. Also I would like to thank Jim, for making all of this possible.
I have been a Canseco fan since I was 7 years old. I remember how I became a fan. He was the first player I ever saw hit a home run. I soon realized that other players hit homeruns, but none like Jose. This player had something no others had, he had presence. I am now 25 years old and am more a fan now than I have ever been. I recently added a member to my family by way of a baby girl named Anna born last November. I will raise her right, as a Canseco fan. I have never met Jose, but that is a dream of mine. I have collected over 1500 different cards of Jose over the years. I have over thirty game used auto cards and almost as many game used cards. I have an autographed bat and an autographed game used bat courtesy of Jose Canseco.com. I have several other autos and various other Canseco collectibles. I have been a Canseco fan over a third of my life, and I don’t see any changes any time soon. No matter what he does, I will always support him.
Dan in Ohio
Dear Jose, I have been a fan of yours since I was old enough to follow the game of baseball. I would come out to Cleveland Stadium and then Jacobs Field everytime you would come to town to watch you play. When your book came out people trashed you and even called you a liar. I didn’t rush to judgement because, after all, you claimed to have first hand knowledge. Today Rafael Palmiero has been given a 10-game suspension for violating MLB’s testing policy. Further evidence that you know what you are talking about. Hopefully someday, some of the members of the national media will get off your back. I enjoyed your book by the way. Mike Cleveland, OH
Manny
Jose I have been a fan since I was 11 years old. I wanted to be like you in many respects on and off the field. It hurts me to know that you did steriods but I respect your decision why. I thought you lied about the accusations on other ball players and thought you broke a code. But Baseball broke the code first. And after today seeing what Raffy has done being tested and found guilty of steriods. I apologize. I hope your life straightens out because of this and Baseball looks at you really trying to clean up the sport. I hope one day to meet you. To meet a hero of mine would really make my day. Again I apologize for not believing in you speaking of the truth and for the abuse you’ve recieved of late because telling the truth. Manny
Ricardo in Oaktown
Jose, Dude just like I have been telling folks I have believed you from the start. People better get behind you and view you as the savior of the game. Time will tell Jose but I truly believe you will go down in history as not only a great player but a player whose honesty put you above all else. I want to thank you for keeping my son Daryl from having to make the choice of using steroids. He is great high school baseball player. I don’t think people fully understand that you have given so much to the game that you truly don’t need it to give back to you. Your sacrafice goes unnoticed now but down the line folks like myself will pay tribute to you and our numbers will grow. So again thank you so much for just being you. Oh yeah Palmero got caught today so I guess people will start taking what you wrote about to heart. I miss seeing you patrol the outfield in Oaktown. Your friend, Ricardo
Eddie in So. Cal
Hello Mr. Canseco. We always watch Surreal Life. Im so glad palmeiro failed his test. This just proves you were right. My the press eat their words about you. Thanks, Eddie.
Nick
Jose, you were right ” a lie has a short foot” –The only honest guy that apperaed before Congress was you. Congradulations on your book and integrity. Nick
Navy All the Way
I have been a loyal Jose fan through it all. The man is a great homerun hitter and came out with the truth about steriods. That just shows what type of man he is. The way the system puts pressure on a man to be the best. But I have followed Jose since the Oakland days. He is the original bash brother and probably could still hit a towering home run. I just wanted to say that Jose is still the man and he will be missed from the game. Jeff QM1(SW) United States Navy
Damo in Sydney
Jose, Just finished reading your book! Mate, all I can say is “You are a true champion” I really couldn’t put the book down once I started reading it thanks for giving us an insight into what it was like to be a great MLB player. I bet Bondsy or McGwire could never write a book like yours, life is full of people who always hide in the shadows of the truth. I refer to those types of people as FAKES. People would respect them more if they told the truth. I just rang my bro and told him I finished reading your book cause he can’t wait to read it, he played in the Marlins and Mariners system for 10 years and made the 40 Man roster Mariners before breaking his arm and they said “See ya Later, Alligator” But I said to him the other day that if he juiced up it may have been a different story and he replied “You know what I hate to admit it but I think you’re right.” I’ll be making sure my son reads your book as well, he’s currently 2 years old so it’ll be a few years before he reads it. When he gets older he’ll have great expectations to live up to his Dads and Uncles reputation on the baseball field. Good on ya mate great book! Im off to surf ebay to see what I can find which is autographed by yourself! Damo Sydney Australia
Rowdy Fan
Hey this is a great site for the canseco fan. Good work guys. Anyway i just wanted to express my fanatical life that Jose has inspired. He is by far the most powerful hitter ever to pick up a bat, just to watch him swing is impressive, such speed and authority. Hes awesome. Hes inspired me and captivated me on and off the field with his controversial life. But no matter what he does ill be his fan forever. Missing over 500 games and still hitting 462 homeruns who could say that he wouldnt pass Aaron. No doubt Jose Canseco is the greatest power hitter ever.
Editorial Cartoon
Jose, My wife and I have gotten a kick out of your Surreal Life appearance. Your ability to laugh at yourself, and to rise above the rude behavior of others (booksigning episode), is admirable. …You might get a kick out of an editorial cartoon I did when your book came out. Best regards, Jim Editorial Cartoonist
Big Al in Minnesota
To One of My Heros Jose…. It saddens me greatly to see all of these people trying to deny the truth and blame you for everything. You and the rest of us know the truth. I am a 33 yr old former college athlete from Minnesota. I suffer from severe back problems and have had many surgeries. I may be in a pinch but I always loved living my dreams of baseball thru watching you and a few others play ball. From one big dude to another… chin upm be proud, and remember. There are more of us that love ya man. God Bless you! your pal from Albert inMinnesota
Christopher the Fan
Jose; I want to first say I am a fan. A fan of Jose Canseco and a fan of baseball. I believe as a professional and the owner of a company that if you do not give 100% every day you fail as a person, I have no problem with what you or others did to be the best in your sport to help your team. I also believe your book tells the real story the story of how baseball will use you then throw you away. I wish the baseball writers would have the balls to elect a man who deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, but I doubt it. Good luck in life Christopher
Brian in Miami
first of all i will admit i was upset and dissapointed when the book came out, but after hearing what transpired on 790 am the ticket with dan lebatard and jim leriytz, i understood a little more . i am 27 yrs old now i have been a fan since 1986, no joke no bullcrap. i saw the first episode on the sureal life and i was happy to see your attitude and demenor with the book signing.personally i dont think you are an idiot or a cro magnon man like bronson pinchot said you were.what i am saying is today you gained back a loyal fan. i do think that someday you will be in the hall of fame were you should be considering you the first member of the 40/40 club. i hope you actually do get a chance to read this . brian miami,fl
Greg Knows
You go Canseco! McGwire….strike Palmerio…strike I always believed you. Thanks for telling the truth, Greg
Blog about Palmiero
Rafael Palmeiro is a cheat and liar. Its plain and simple folks, Palmeiro the newest member of the exclusive 3000 hit club and more exclusive member of the 500 home run/3000 hit club, now a tainted member of both clubs, has tested positive for steroids. Is this proof enough for the head-in-the-sand crowd? Is the apology to Jose Canseco in the mail? Jose said it, Rafael denied it, the failed drug test proved it. There’s no doubt that Palmeiro is now ruing the day that he decided to point the finger at the Congressional Committee and declare in no uncertain terms that he never took steroids. Ask Martha Stewart what happens after you lie to Congress. And those in the media who are shocked that Palmeiro would risk taking steroids because he is under the spotlight of scrutiny, just don’t understand the issue. Olympic athletes and athletes in other sports such as cycling and weight-lifting have had to contend with the specter of drug testing for decades, and yet these athletes still risk getting caught using drugs because they want to be the best at what they do. Athletes are willing to cheat to reach the top. How can this be a surprise to anybody? Cheating to reach the top happens in every profession, every day. Cheating to become rich or even just to make more money is commonplace. I am amazed that people who spend so much time around athletes would be surprised that a professional baseball player would cheat by using steroids to A) reach the top B) stay at the top C) become an all-time great and D) to enrich themselves. This whole story is a great illustration of all of the problems with Major League Baseball and their drug testing. First of all, Palmeiro’s failed test was handled differently that the other tests this year, in that he was allowed to secretly appeal the failed drug test before the positive test was announced. And the confidential/secret nature of this program just adds to the confusion. Not knowing if the player tested positive for an injectable steroid – or not – does a disservice to the players and their fans. A guy who tests positive for some over-the-counter supplement shouldn’t be lumped in with the hard-core injectable users. Also, the timing of this announcement stinks as the league waited until after Palmeiro got his 3000th hit and after Sunday’s Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Finally, for all of the naysayers out there that have denied that there has been a steroid problem in baseball for years, give it up. At every turn there is MORE evidence that steroid use in baseball is a huge problem, and there hasn’t been one indication to the contrary. Sal Marinello
Sadly, Palmeiro misplays public’s trust
BALTIMORE – The benefit of the doubt is a terrible thing to lose. Just five months ago, Rafael Palmeiro banked on that benefit of the doubt, a gift that America grants with universal and often indiscriminant generosity to anyone who requests it, when he testified before a Congressional committee. “Let me start by telling you this, I have never used steroids, period,” said the Baltimore Orioles slugger who is one of four men in history with 500 homers and 3,000 hits. Palmeiro pointed his finger for emphasis, a gesture that was universally understood. He was pushing all his chips, accumulated over a career, into the center of the table. All his well-known civic and charitable good deeds, his reputation as a clean player, were shoved into the pot to counterbalance the charge, made by Jose Canseco, that Canseco had injected Palmeiro with steroids on many occasions when they were teammates. Canseco wrote the accusation in a book. Then he swore to it before Congress. And Palmeiro denied it utterly, sitting just a few feet from Canseco. There was no gray. Somebody was lying. Of all the players in baseball, the least likely man to be caught cheating with steroids this season would be Palmeiro, right? Even if he had used them every day of his career, he would stop now, because anyone in their right mind would cease and desist. Yet, in one of the most unexpected announcements ever made in baseball, Palmeiro has been caught, suspended and has actually admitted to using steroids this season. Palmeiro simply claims that he has no idea how they got in his body. Abducted by aliens? Sat too close to Canseco at the hearing? Got a package in the mail that was intended for Jason Giambi? Add Palmeiro to the list of those who did not “knowingly” cheat. Just 17 days ago, he was being celebrated for his 3,000th hit. Now, in one day, he’s the tag line to every cynical wisecrack. The quip circulating among writers who vote on the Hall of Fame is that, someday, Palmeiro may be left out of Cooperstown, but not “knowingly,” just by collective accident. Palmeiro is now America’s stock joke, its villain of the week, its symbol of hypocrisy or stupidity. In this culture, everybody gets a second chance, provided they come clean about their sins and take their punishment. And everybody also gets the benefit of the doubt. But heaven help you if, after playing that once-per-lifetime, I-swear-on-a-stack-of-Bibles card, you get nailed again. On ESPN radio on Monday, a tape was played over and over of former president Bill Clinton, saying, “I did not have never had sexual relations with that woman,” followed by Palmeiro saying, “I have never used steroids, period.” In the background, banjos from “Deliverance.” For those of us who have known Palmeiro for years and like him” which is not the same as believing him” this is a bitter day. Palmeiro may have the most logical line of self-defense ever uttered by someone who will be believed by very few. “Why would I do this in a year when I went in front of Congress and I testified and I told the truth,” Palmeiro said. “Why would I do this in a season when I was going to get to 3,000 hits? It makes no sense. I would not put my career on the line. I would not put my reputation on the line and everything I have accomplished throughout my career. I would not do that. … It was an accident. I’m paying the price. … “This is the toughest time that I’ve gone through in my life with anything.” All this makes sense” of a sort. President George W. Bush, who owned the Rangers when Palmeiro was a star for them, said: “Rafael Palmeiro is a friend. He testified in public and I believe him…. Still do.” However, personal friends aside, Palmeiro may be surprised at how few people will give him a second benefit of the doubt, especially on such a large scale. The Oriole is now asking the public to ignore both a direct accusation by Canseco, which he has not challenged in court, and a laboratory test result that he does not even contest. Also, in the manner of other non-confession confessions, Palmeiro sounded contrite Monday when he said: “I made a mistake and I am facing it. I hope that people learn from my mistake and that the fans can forgive me.” Forgive, certainly, in time. But forget the link now forged between Palmeiro and steroids? Not likely. According to one industry source, the steroid in Palmeiro’s system was a “serious” one. That would seem a forgone conclusion. Would baseball take action against so famous a player unless the facts were damning enough that nobody could contradict their seriousness? Palmeiro and his agent, as well as the Orioles, repeated many times that they could not go into details about Palmeiro’s steroid blunder because of some “confidentiality” issues. “I would love to tell what happened to me so that everyone would understand,” said Palmeiro, “but under this confidentiality agreement, I cannot get specific.” Unfortunately, what we may have here is a Stupidity Test. As in: How stupid are we? Whose “confidentiality” is being protected? Palmeiro’s, of course. If he wanted to explain more, who could stop him from defending his good name? The union and baseball have a confidentiality agreement that prevents them from releasing information. But that doesn’t put masking tape over the player’s mouth. If Palmeiro had a compelling story, who could force him to stay silent? When Raffy comes back in 10 days, maybe he’ll have a tale to tell. But by then, it will probably be far too late. The damage is done. Those in Camden Yards on Monday could only shake their heads when they looked at the huge sign on the B&O; Warehouse — two stories high and three windows wide — that said, “Congratulations, Raffy! 3,000.” As Palmeiro was chasing his 3,000th hit, he surely knew what was chasing him. This wasn’t a short process. A drug test was positive. A 10-day suspension was given. The union filed a grievance on Palmeiro’s behalf. Ultimately, an arbitration panel rejected that grievance on Monday. As Palmeiro listened to cheers, he probably suspected that even more jeers were on the way. Since the late ’80s, many in baseball have taken steroids. Recently, Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt said that, if he’d played in the current era, he thought he would have succumbed to temptation and taken steroids. Couldn’t have resisted the peer pressure. Would have wanted to compete, be the top dog. Would have probably accepted the risk to health and reputation. There but for the grace of God go I, said Schmitty. But he also said taking steroids was cheating. No way around it. For two years our sports culture, right up to Congress, has been building a huge Steroid Trap, just waiting for a famous star to get caught inside. Somebody was going to get nailed, become the symbol and carry the weight. All the more fitting if the culprit was a shocker, perhaps somebody who shook his finger in the face of Congress and demanded his right to the benefit of the doubt. Too bad it turned out to be Rafael Palmeiro. It could have been so many bigger rats. Thomas Boswell The Washington Post
Thanks Jose
Jose, I would just like to thank you for single handedly saving baseball. Mcguire and Sosa are not heroes but fake liars. Without all of your accusations we would have never seen Palmiero get busted. I beleive every player you say took steroids because it is very obvious, especially now. I just hope the Hall of Fame voters can open there eyes to this mess by making difinitive rules what are considered cheating. THERE IS NO DOUBT what Palmiero did was a lot worse than what Pete Rose did as a manager. Pete didnt cheat the game, he cheated himself. Raffy has done both. I also believe Curt Schilling probably took them too by watching him at the court hearing last year. It was so obvious to me that everyone in that room used or was still using steroids.Thanks for saving baseball. Now maybe we can work on the hall of fame. Because you belong in over a lot of these other guys from my generation, especially corked Sosa, why would he still take steroids now? Palmiero, and finally Mcguire who single handedly ruined his legacy by not answering questions when hes not even gonna get tested. Thanks Jose Canseco, Your biggest fan – Ben