San Francisco Sports Today

San Francisco Sports News Continuously Updated

Elephant Rumblings: Bash Bros talk reconciliation

by

Cincinnati, OH Ocotber 17, 1990: Jose Canseco, left, and Oakland Athletics teammate Mark McGwire, exchange their “Bash Brothers” salute after Canseco homered during game two of the 1990 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds at Riverpoint Stadium. (Jose
Photo by MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images

MLB news roundup

Happy Friday, Athletics Nation!

I hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving and are enjoying an extra long weekend. I am thankful for both of these things, my lovely wife, and our two cats, who I assure you are the World’s Best Felines. I’m thankful for our health. Lastly, I’ll express gratitude for this community, which is holding up admirably well considering the catastrophic trajectory the Athletics organization has taken over the last couple years.

Thanksgiving is about recognizing the good in our lives, and setting aside old grudges against estranged relations surely complements a sprit of gratitude. No, I’m not suggesting that you text your ex. But it’s a fitting time for Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire—the legendary A’s slugging tandem known as the Bash Brothers—to consider burying the hatchet and making peace with mistakes of the past.

Canseco made huge waves—and a lot of enemies—in 2005, when he published a tell-all about steroid use in MLB. “Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant ’Roids, Smash Hits & How Baseball Got Big” included confessions of Jose’s own steroid use, but also outed McGwire and other stars that Canseco alleged used PEDs. The book triggered a wave of scrutiny and a congressional inquiry on the matter.

McGwire vowed never to speak with Canseco again after the book was published, though he did later admit to using PEDs, and Canseco has repeatedly apologized for the “mistake” of writing the book.

To date, Canseco’s reconciliatory gestures have reportedly been rebuffed by McGwire, but according to John Shea and Susan Slusser at the San Francisco Chronicle, Big Mac may finally be ready to forgive his old teammate’s trespasses and move on, telling the Chronicle that “if we ever meet and talk, I’d be happy to talk to him.”

Canseco was both a great player and a controversial one. The sensationalist approach of his book alienated many players as well as fans like myself. But Jose has seemed sincere in his desire to make amends. His emotional outpouring at the final A’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony certainly touched me.

In a world that desperately needs peacemakers, I’d love to see baseball’s first 40/40 man and the A’s all-time leading home run hitter bring it in and become Bash Brothers once again.

Have a wonderful weekend, AN.

A’s Coverage:

MLB News & Interest:

Best of X:

Roster moves.

Filed Under: A's