409 pages. On December 13, 2007, it took 409 pages for the most controversial subject in baseball history to realize the rumors of its prevalence. Sen. George Mitchell headed this investigation centered around the use of anabolic steroids and human growth hormone (HGH). A total of 88 current and former Major Leaguers were implicated including Barry Bonds, Andy Pettitte, Miguel Tejada and Roger Clemens.

Sen. George Mitchell was appointed to conduct the investigation on March 30, 2006 by MLB Commissioner Bud Selig. This came in response to the controversy surrounding the release of Game of Shadows, which detailed the BALCO investigation and the actions of Barry Bonds. Over 700 people were interviewed during the inquiry, while only two current players agreed to provide information. The Player’s Association discouraged their members from participating and this direction was followed largely except for Jason Giambi and Frank Thomas. The majority of the report came from former Mets Clubhouse Attendant, Kurt Radomski. Checks, shipment records and first hand knowledge were provided by Radomski to substantiate his assumptions and have led many named in the report to respond.

Andy Pettitte, Fernando Vina and Brian Roberts are a few of the names who have admitted to performance enhancing drug use following the release of the report. However, the centerpiece of the report, Roger Clemens, has flatly denied the allegations. Clemens was named 82 times throughout the document with allegations dating back to 1998 while he was a member of the Toronto Blue Jays and trained with Brian McNamee. McNamee had connections to Radomski and reportedly personally injected both Clemens and Pettitte with HGH. The damaging allegations are numerous for many players, but Mitchell personally recommended a stronger drug policy with third party testing.

The main point taken as a result of the investigation was to look ahead rather than in the past. Since the release, Bud Selig has a called the report a “call to action” and has called for the questioning of the 14 current players named. Major League Baseball and the Players Association have agreed to rework the current collective bargaining agreement to include a number of Mitchell’s recommendations.

These 409 pages of the Mitchell Report have set a new precedent for the game of baseball and should make for an interesting off-season from this point forward as implicated players join new teams or look for new contracts and especially as the MLB and the MLBPA try to work a few things out.