The New York Yankees have been in the news quite a bit when it comes to steroids and PEDs after the suspension of Alex Rodriguez and now the team is in it again, but for an entirely different reason, as former player Shane Spencer was the victim of a hoax on the radio involving accusations about steroids and the late 90s Yankees World Series teams.
According to ESPN New York.com, Spencer was the victim of a hoax after a man called in to an Albany radio station and posed as the former Yankee, slinging accusations at players on the team during the years between 1998 and 2002, including Derek Jeter. The interview was posted online before coming down and the "content" of the interview had the fake Spencer speaking about drug use in baseball and on the Yankees and it went on for a half an hour.
The fake Spencer admitted online that he used steroids and later Derek Jeter heard the interview in the Yankees clubhouse before playing the Angels in the Bronx. Spencer said that when he heard the interview he was disgusted and he later released a statement to ESPN and the Michael Kay Show on the radio to confirm that it was not him. Spencer said that he did not participate in the interview with ESPN Radio 104.5 FM host Mike Lindsley and mentioned that he never took steroids during his career.
Spencer played five seasons with the Yankees and hit .263 with 43 home runs and 167 RBIs and some of the topics in the interview included talk about Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Roger Clemens as well as drug use in baseball. Spencer said that he was embarrassed about the whole incident and said he wanted to apologize to the Yankees. Spencer now is the hitting coach for the Somerset Patriots of the independent Atlantic League and according to ESPN.com, Jeter had "Charlie Wonsowicz, the Yankees head video coordinator, call the real Shane Spencer to let him know about it.
Click here for more information on the audio interview and the Spencer hoax.
The statement from Spencer read:
"In response to an interview that ESPN Radio 104.5 FM host Mike Lindsley claims to have done with me on Tuesday afternoon, I would like to set the record straight that I did not participate in any such interview.
"Someone called into the station claiming to be me and spoke on my behalf regarding some very sensitive topics surrounding baseball. This caller spoke as me about topics ranging from steroids, to my time with the New York Yankees, Roger Clemens, and my feelings about the great Mariano Rivera.
"I am outraged that someone would do this and at the same time disappointed that the station believed it to be me despite not coming from the contact information they had for me.
"I am hearing about this interview from friends, family, former teammates, and fans. It is very disappointing that someone was able to go on the air as me and speak for me about these topics.
"I would like to set the record straight that the interview was not done with me and all the opinions were not mine.''