BREAKING: Tornadoes Sign Canseco
Friday, April 20, 2012
During his time as a member of the "Bash Brothers" in Oakland, Canseco was one of the game's most feared power hitters.
Canseco, who played 17 years in the majors for multiple teams, including the Red Sox, has been known most recently for his book Juiced: Wild Times, Rampant 'Roids, Smash Hits & How Baseball Got Big, which shed light on baseball’s alleged “steroid era.”
Canseco smashed 462 homeruns in his Major League career, and won the American League MVP Award in 1988 as a member of the Oakland Athletics.
“I am very much looking forward to putting on a uniform and competing on a professional level again,” Canseco said in a statement. “I love the game of baseball. I am particularly grateful to the Worcester Tornadoes for embracing me and having the confidence in me to help the team win.”
Since leaving the majors in 2001, Canseco has bounced around numerous independent leagues, and even tried his hands at boxing and mixed martial arts, though he once, notoriously, sent his twin brother Ozzie Canseco out to the ring in his place.
The 47-year old Canseco has also had numerous run-ins with the law, and his tell-all book accused many Major League stars of steroid use. While many discredited the accusations at the time, several of the players named, including former teammate Jason Giambi, have admitted that they were true.
On the baseball diamond, however, Tornadoes owner Todd Breighner believes that Canseco can bring more to the team than ticket sales.
“We’re very optimistic Jose will be a very solid ball player for the Tornadoes,” Breighner said. “As our goal is to continue to bring high-level baseball to Worcester.”
Canseco is in Boston today for the 100th Anniversary Celebration of Fenway Park. The Tornadoes begin their season Thursday, May 17th in New Jersey against the Newark Bears.
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