Live: The Report
The news conference for former Sen. George Mitchell has concluded, so has the one for Commissioner Bud Selig, and now so has the one for Donald Fehr, executive director of the Players Association. We have posted the PDF of the Mitchell Report at MLB.com. Here is the download launch page, or just get the PDF file: Download mitchrpt.pdf
Mitchell is saying that the most important part is the conclusions in his report. Here, then, are the conclusions excerpted from that PDF:
There has been a great deal of speculation about this report. Much of it has focused on players’ names: how many and which ones. After considering that issue very carefully I concluded that it is appropriate and necessary to include them in this report. Otherwise I would not have done what I was asked to do: to try to find out what happened and to report what I learned accurately, fairly, and thoroughly.
While the interest in names is understandable, I hope the media and the public will keep that part of the report in context and will look beyond the individuals to the central conclusions and recommendations of this report. In closing, I want to emphasize them:
1. The use of steroids in Major League Baseball was widespread. The response by baseball was slow to develop and was initially ineffective. For many years, citing concerns for the privacy rights of the players, the Players Association opposed mandatory random drug testing of its members for steroids and other substances. But in 2002, the effort gained momentum after the clubs and the Players Association agreed to and adopted a mandatory random drug testing program. The current program has been effective in that detectable steroid use appears to have declined. However, that does not mean that players have stopped using performance enhancing substances. Many players have shifted to human growth hormone, which is not detectable in any currently available urine test.
2. The minority of players who used such substances were wrong. They violated federal law and baseball policy, and they distorted the fairness of competition by trying to gain an unfair advantage over the majority of players who followed the law and the rules. They –- the players who follow the law and the rules –- are faced with the painful choice of either being placed at a competitive disadvantage or becoming illegal users themselves. No one should have to make that choice.
3. Obviously, the players who illegally used performance enhancing substances are responsible for their actions. But they did not act in a vacuum. Everyone involved in baseball over the past two decades -– Commissioners, club officials, the Players Association, and players –- shares to some extent in the responsibility for the steroids era. There was a collective failure to recognize the problem as it emerged and to deal with it early on. As a result, an environment developed in which illegal use became widespread.
4. Knowledge and understanding of the past are essential if the problem is to be dealt with effectively in the future. But being chained to the past is not helpful. Baseball does not need and cannot afford to engage in a never-ending search for the name of every player who ever used performance enhancing substances. The Commissioner was right to ask for this investigation and report. It would have been impossible to get closure on this issue without it, or something like it.
5. But it is now time to look to the future, to get on with the important and difficult task that lies ahead. Everyone involved in Major League Baseball should join in a well-planned, well-executed, and sustained effort to bring the era of steroids and human growth hormone to an end and to prevent its recurrence in some other form in the future. That is the only way this cloud will be removed from the game. The adoption of the recommendations set forth in this report will be a first step in that direction.
The Mitchell Reporter 
// But being chained to the past is not helpful… But it is now time to look to the future //
So Mitchell interviewed McGwire? I didn’t see that in the report…
Michael Norton – Some Clubhouse
http://mlblog.someclubhouse.com
Milwaukee is not in good shape. We just signed Gagne and he is on the list. So much for the bullpen. Also I knew Barry Bonds was going to be on the list and re affirms what we all believed. Now Hank Aaron can retain the title that is his.
Wow George Mitchell
JEEEZ when does a investigation cross the line into a smear campaign?
What a long face!
Is he any relation to Ken Starr?
And what do you tell the families of the folks you smeared?
Barry Bonds is God’s chosen hero regardless of what he does to his own personnal body.
And Roger Clemons wont take this calmly either.
Its gonna rain Lawyers and Mr Mitchell deserves a microscope up his *** too.
Sincerely’
Daniel Warren
I’m reading it page by page now… Some interesting facts, some old news. Props to Frank Thomas to be the only player willing to talk to Mitchell on his own.
McGwire should just come clean. Mitchell requested an interview with McGwire and McG declined.
http://www.fightingphils.mlblogs.com
They are going to use this report, particularly the “move forward” section, to blow off all that was done wrong and effectively pardon the transgressors. None of the stats mean anything now. I don’t believe in baseball anymore.
Here is how I summarize this report. “I have a friend of a friend who saw player x take steroids one night 5 years ago”. Too much hearsay, not enough evidence. I don’t think you bring all these names up without hard evidence.
I completely agree with kurt’s comment. How did an investigation of this length turn up nothing but a bunch of word of mouth ****.
I disagree with the 3rd comment, Mitchell specifically stated that every player named had their chance to give their side of the story, if they declined then it’s their own fault.
I wonder what the backlash will be against The Big Hurt (Frank Thomas) from the other players around the league once they learn he was the only player to speak to Mitchell voluntarily. I said a few years back that he is the only guy in baseball I’m 100% sure never used steroids, and my feelings are just confirmed today. Good job Big Hurt.
Still, none of this will do anything to stop players from using steroids/HGH. Kruk made a great point on ESPN, make the first offense a 2 year ban and the 2nd offense, you’re done. Of course that would never be agreed upon by the union though.
Overall, this investigation was a complete joke.
Mitchell was able to come up with two cooperating sources, a former Mets’ clubhouse attendent and a former Yankees’ strength coach. Can’t we assume that similar characters existed in other clubhouses across the country with client lists of their own? The list of players implicated is clearly a small sampling, so disciplinary action would be unjust. The publishing of the names was also grossly irresponsible, as these players’ reputations will now be irreparably smeared just because they happened to be clients of the guy who snitched.
What I don’t look forward to is explaining to my 12 and 7 year old sons what all of this means. They love the game the same way we all did as kids. When I get asked “is (fill in the blank) a future Hall of Famer?” do I now change my answer to “I don’t know, was he in the Mitchell Reoprt”?
I agree that the Game needs to move on. The Union and the League need to get their collective s%#t together and think about the fans. We are the fuel that drives their multi-billion dollar engine. It’s time for THE FANS to be selfish and demand more. The Game lives on because of us…not the owners, not the players, not the TV execs. Little League, high school ball, Babe Ruth and Legion ball, back yard games, games played in the street and in the cornfields will survive. There is a difference between being disappointed in Major League Baseball and loving the GAME. Continue to love the GAME, MLB needs some serious work.
Get at it Players Union and Owners….or you will be left behind.
So wait, because we only caught some of the guilty players, the ones that were caught shouldn’t be punished? No wonder baseball is jacked up with fans like Daniel and half the Yankee fans I’ve been reading here on MLBlogs. Get a grip people! These guys cheated. Did the report miss many more? Of course but that doesn’t somehow mean that these guys aren’t guilty. So far all of the names that have come out have been spot on accurate (Ankiel, Byrd, Grimsley etc) and there’s no reason to believe these aren’t as well.
We need to move on and put a * on each of the players involved in the scandal and then enforce this one rule and one rule only. Ready for this? You get caught using steriods or HGH just once, you are banned from MLB for life. Pete Rose deserves to be in the Hall of Fame for all of this mess.
Why doesn’t the country “wake up” and realize these overpaid clowns don’t care whether the public know they use drugs as long as the families can find the $$$$$$ to go to a major league game. They only look @their pay check and records that were set long ago before anyone knew about enhancing dugs are not their concern. The Mitchell report is very concise and recognizes that MLB is dirty. Sad time for MLB and I’m sure the Babe Ruth’s, etc are rolling over in their graves over this. But I’m sure Selig and the rest will just turn their heads and no one will be penalized. We all know about the Olympics, Tour De france, etc, what about Football, Basketball, etc are all these super overpaid athletes clean. Looking in the past, we don’t want another Nixon??? The public needs to take a stand and stop supporting the dirt in sports.
Pete Rose was banned for life. Not the same, but totally relative.
That is what should happen to the cheaters!!!
Gambling is not cheating, and Rose didn’t disgrace the game the way this multitude has. This is a partial list and I bet only 1 in 10 got caught buy this unthorough yet eye opening investigation. These guys are gonna start dropping like Lyle Alzado’s but at least their families will be set for life as their legacies forever tarnished. I am embarrassed for baseball and my participation in it will be forever lessened. No more jerseys, jackets, tickets, viewing, or anything else from me. I’m done until this stops happening and the guilty are nolonger in the game! Feel my disgust people?
It would be nice, if the Cy Youngers and MVP’ers on this list who would have, are never voted into the HOF.
You cant take their milestones away, because there may be others that havent been found (yet)… but
you have to admit
If we’re going to castrate Barry Bonds, somebody like Clemens ought to also be castrated as well. Its only fair.
AMEN kurtmetting@yahoo.com !!!
The Players deserve representation before being crucified
I just have 2 comments about this whole fiasco. these, of course could be followed by several others, but for now, just 2.
1: I find it reprehensible, and completely irresponsible to publish names on hearsay “evidence”.
2: And more important –
I DON’T CARE!!!!!
As, I think, most fans don’t.
The media, and our misguided, deaf, blind and dumb govenment
are making a big deal where there isn’t one, so we can ignore things they should be concentrating on.