Last week, longtime baseball insider Jon Heyman briefly posted—and quickly deleted—an image on Instagram that immediately sparked curiosity, confusion, and conspiracy. The photo contained a list of former MLB players, many of whom were stars during the height of baseball’s infamous steroid era.

So what did the list mean? Was it an accusation? A memory jogger? A research tool?

We took a deep dive into the names on the list, their histories, and the common thread that likely connects them: performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). Some were caught. Some admitted it. Others were just whispered about. But all shared one thing, they played during a time when steroids cast a long shadow over the game.

Confirmed PED Users

These players were either suspended, admitted to use, or failed tests:

Alex Rodriguez – Suspended for the entire 2014 season due to Biogenesis scandal.

Barry Bonds – Home run king with BALCO ties; never admitted, but the evidence is overwhelming.

Roger Clemens – Linked to HGH; denied use, but heavily scrutinized in the Mitchell Report.

Jason Giambi – Admitted to steroid use in grand jury testimony.

Rafael Palmeiro – Famously wagged his finger at Congress, then failed a test months later.

Miguel Tejada – Suspended in 2013 for amphetamine use; admitted lying to Congress.

Andy Pettitte – Owned up to HGH use to recover from injury.

Eric Gagne – Admitted to HGH use in retirement.

Gary Sheffield – Involved in BALCO but claimed he was unaware of what he took.

Jose Canseco – The whistleblower. He admitted to using and wrote the book exposing others.

David Ortiz – Allegedly tested positive in 2003; MLB later walked back the test’s legitimacy.

Mitchell Report Connections & Suspicious Links

These players were named in MLB’s 2007 Mitchell Report or associated with PED suppliers:

Troy Glaus

Paul Lo Duca

Fernando Tatis Sr

Matt Herges

Jay Gibbons

Ricky Bones

Brian Roberts, – Claimed he tried steroids once, didn’t like them

Accused or Rumored (But Never Proven)

Some players were tied to PEDs through whispers, media speculation, or clubhouse rumors:

Sammy Sosa – Reportedly tested positive in 2003; never confirmed or punished.

Nomar Garciaparra – Persistent speculation but no evidence.

Juan Gonzalez – Clubhouse stories followed him; denied it all.

Moises Alou – Never confirmed, but listed in several PED-era rumor circles.

Benito Santiago – BALCO connections alleged.

Raul Mondesi, Dmitri Young, Milton Bradley, Adrian Beltre – No proof, but questions lingered based on era and physique.

Just Steroid Era Survivors?

Others on the list may have simply been notable players from the era of suspicion. Names like Magglio Ordoñez, Preston Wilson, Geoff Jenkins, and Aubrey Huff weren’t directly linked to PEDs but played in the same shadows.

So Why Did Heyman Post This?

That’s the million-dollar question. Without a caption or explanation, it’s unclear whether it was:

An old research list for a book or article, A graphic for an upcoming segment, Or something not meant for public eyes.

The quick deletion only adds to the mystery.

Regardless, it serves as a reminder: the steroid era isn’t just history—it still haunts the Hall of Fame ballots, the reputations of legends, and the record books we celebrate.