BOSTON — In some ways, Paul Byrd would seem one of the most unlikely people to dabble in performance-enhancing drugs. At age 36, the right-hander is definitely closer to the end of his career than the beginning. And, if there ever was a time when he could blow a baseball past a hitter, it’s long gone.
And Byrd is the first person to point that out. When he returned to the dugout in the fifth inning in Game 5 of the AL Championship Series, he told his teammates that they had to break through in what was a scoreless tie “because I just hit 90” on the radar gun.
But Byrd’s lack of velocity, exacerbated by Tommy John surgery in 2003, and his desire to remain in the big leagues afterward, also makes him a perfect candidate to use human growth hormone. Not long before his Cleveland Indians team faced the Boston Red Sox in Game 7 of the ALCS, hours after the San Francisco Chronicle reported that the Indians pitcher purchased $25,000 worth of the substance between August 2002 and January 2005, Byrd admitted getting the drugs.
“I have nothing to hide. Everything I’ve done is out in the open. I have never taken any hormone or any drug that hasn’t been prescribed to me from a doctor,” Byrd said of his HGH purchases during an impromptu news conference outside the Indians’ clubhouse.
“That is the key to this,” Byrd continued. “I have a reputation. I speak at a lot of places. I speak to kids, I speak to churches and I don’t want people to think I cheated. It’s very important to me to make people understand that.”
In an interview with , Byrd said a health problem was part of the reason he made the purchases.
“The Indians, my coaches and MLB have known that I have had a pituitary gland issue for some time and have assisted me in getting blood tests in different states,” Byrd told FOXSports.
According to The Chronicle, Byrd made his last purchase of HGH the first week of January 2005. A week later, Major League Baseball banned the substance. On Sunday, baseball officials issued a statement that read, “We will investigate the allegations concerning Paul Byrd as we have players implicated in previous similar reports.”
Indians GM Mark Shapiro also issued a statement.
“We are aware of the story regarding Paul,” Shapiro said. “I have spoken with Paul about the situation. However, at this time, I don’t feel I have enough information to make any further comments on the matter. He has been an important member of this organization – on and off the field – over the last two years and we support him in this process.”
Byrd pitched for the Kansas City Royals and Atlanta Braves during the time of his purchases. In 2002 he had his best season, going 17-11 with seven complete games, two shutouts and an ERA of 3.90 in 33 starts.
Byrd was 15-11 for the Indians this season and has been their best pitcher in the playoffs, beating the Red Sox in Game 4 and clinching the team’s division series win over New York with another Game 4 triumph.
Byrd is the fourth player this season to have allegedly purchased HGH. The others are Angels outfielder Gary Matthews, Cardinals outfielder Rick Ankiel and Rangers infielder Jerry Hairston Jr.
