Aaron: Release all names on drug list

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. --- Hank Aaron wants the list of players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003 to be released.

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Associated Press

Hank Aaron discussed the state of baseball in an interview Tuesday in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The Hall of Famer said all of the names on a 2003 steroids list should be released so the game can move on.

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In a wide-ranging interview Tuesday night with The Associated Press, the Hall of Famer said releasing the list would help Major League Baseball get past the so-called "Steroid Era." The list was supposed to remain anonymous and is now under court seal, but big names have continued to leak out.

"I wish for once and forever that we could come out and say we have 100 and some names, name them all and get it over and let baseball go on," the former home run king said. "I don't know how they keep leaking out. I just wish that they would name them all and get it over with."

Aaron also wanted to make a few other things clear.

No, he has not spoken with commissioner Bud Selig about banned Pete Rose being reinstated in baseball. But he does think it's time Rose, the career hits leader, be reinstated and voted into the Hall of Fame.

"How long does a person have to die?" Aaron said. "I think the thing that bothers me is that he is missing out on a lot of things. He made a mistake. I don't know what else can be done, or what else can be said. I just think at some point he needs to start enjoying being a Hall of Famer."

Since steroids have become one of baseball's biggest problems, the thought that the game is still tainted doesn't sit well with Aaron, who held the home run record with 755 until Barry Bonds broke it.

Neither does the fact that some of baseball's biggest names -- including a New York Times report last week that identified Boston slugger David Ortiz and former teammate Manny Ramirez -- continue to pop up on what has become known as "the list."

At a banquet for the 17th Annual RBI World Series on Tuesday night, Aaron said he often delivers a message to kids about getting involved in baseball but also about staying out of trouble. He thought the same message could apply to some major leaguers.

"I tell them you may not be able to hit 700 home runs, but you need to do the right things," Aaron said. "There's no shortcuts in life. Everything is going to catch up."