From 60K to 600K: How MLB Salaries EXPLODED (Hall of Famer Tells All) | Jose Canseco DSH #723

Summary

Digital Social Hour Podcast Summary
Episode: From 60K to 600K: How MLB Salaries EXPLODED (Hall of Famer Tells All) | Jose Canseco DSH #723
Release Date: November 26, 2024
Host: Sean Kelly
Guest: Jose Canseco

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Introduction

In this captivating episode of the Digital Social Hour, host Sean Kelly engages with former MLB star Jose Canseco, delving into a myriad of topics ranging from Canseco's intriguing poker adventures to his candid perspectives on Major League Baseball's (MLB) evolving salary structures and the controversial Hall of Fame inductions. The conversation offers listeners a deep dive into Canseco's personal experiences, his views on the state of baseball, and his reflections on life after the MLB spotlight.

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Poker Adventures and Unusual Experiences

Jose Canseco begins by sharing some of his most memorable poker stories, highlighting the intense and high-stakes nature of the games he participated in during his athletic career.

[00:01] A: "One time I was in a poker tournament with Danielle Stryker... my pocket aces are going to get knocked out by pocket tens."

Canseco recounts a particularly astonishing streak where he consistently lost pocket aces in poker, leading him to believe that he had some form of unusual foresight or a “curse” affecting his luck in the game.

[02:22] A: "The odds of that... it's like Stone Cold white. True story."

He elaborates on a specific incident involving Danielle Stryker, where despite having pocket aces, the hand resulted in a defeat against pocket tens, an outcome he previously foresaw. This story emphasizes Canseco's belief in luck dominating skill in poker.

[06:11] B: "You have some curse with pocket A. Yeah."

[07:07] B: "Blackjack, that's make suck. The odds of losing 21 times in a row has to be like."

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Visions, Luck, and Gambling Insights

The discussion transitions to Canseco's unique experiences with gambling beyond poker. He shares a harrowing tale from Caesar's Palace where he lost 21 hands in a row in blackjack, further reinforcing his narrative about uncontrollable luck in gambling.

[06:53] A: "Dealer pulled 11 blackjacks on me. Never played blackjack again."

Canseco reflects on his overall relationship with gambling, expressing a preference for poker over other forms due to the skill component he believes is still present, albeit overshadowed by luck.

[23:26] B: "Any day."

[23:40] B: "Do you consider as the goat of poker?"

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Hall of Fame Controversies and Steroid Use

A significant portion of the episode delves into Canseco's candid opinions on the MLB Hall of Fame and steroid use during his era. He criticizes the Hall of Fame’s selection process, accusing it of hypocrisy and favoritism, especially towards players who were implicated in steroid use.

[13:58] A: "They let them all and none him. That makes sense."

[14:18] B: "Right."

Canseco argues that the Hall of Fame voting is influenced by personal biases and agendas rather than purely on merit and statistics, leading to deserving players being overlooked while others with dubious backgrounds are inducted.

[15:00] A: "It has become a shambles. It's become a shame."

He also discusses the prevalence of steroids in his generation compared to the present day, suggesting that it was more rampant in the 80s and 90s but has since declined due to stricter regulations.

[10:17] B: "It's not as prevalent."

[13:15] A: "Athletes in general... the NBA... every sport in general was using it."

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Impact of Steroid Use on Performance and Legacy

Canseco provides personal anecdotes about how steroids affected his performance, dispelling the myth that they directly enhance athletic ability. Instead, he emphasizes their role in maintaining strength and aiding recovery throughout the grueling MLB seasons.

[10:25] A: "It maintains the same strength that you come into spring training."

He reveals that the year he was off steroids was his most productive, hitting 46 home runs – a stark contrast to his performance during steroid use.

[10:25] A: "The year I was off steroids... I hit the most home run."

Canseco criticizes the Hall of Fame's inconsistent standards regarding steroid use, highlighting the exclusion of players like Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, and Alex Rodriguez despite their impressive statistics.

[14:24] B: "Barry Bonds didn't get in."

[14:25] A: "That's ridiculous... How can Barry Bonds not get in?"

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Personal Life and Reflections

Transitioning to more personal topics, Canseco discusses his relationship with Alex Rodriguez, describing a fallout that stemmed from personal disagreements and mutual disdain.

[17:20] A: "Alex Rodriguez... the man can lie like you wouldn't believe."

He touches upon his own family life, mentioning his daughter Josie, whom he proudly describes as a supermodel with a passion for poker.

[21:45] A: "My daughter Josie... she's very lucky. Had a great time."

Canseco also reflects on his post-MLB endeavors, including involvement in charities, speaking engagements, and even a brief stint in fighting, which ended prematurely due to injuries.

[31:11] A: "People don't know this. I was injured completely."

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Views on Education and Society

A thought-provoking segment of the conversation centers on Canseco's critical views of the educational system. He asserts that traditional schooling fails to equip individuals with essential life skills like financial literacy and business acumen.

[26:43] B: "So you sent your daughter to school?"

[27:14] A: "I learned nothing in school. Absolutely zero."

Canseco advocates for entrepreneurial education and leveraging online resources to gain practical knowledge, suggesting that the current system is designed to produce obedient workers rather than independent thinkers.

[28:51] B: "Wow. Who taught you all that stuff?"

[28:53] A: "Just living life. Internet... YouTube."

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Reflections on MLB’s Financial Growth and Future

Canseco analyzes the exponential growth in MLB salaries, drawing comparisons between his era and the modern game. He remarks on how financial incentives have skyrocketed, making the sport a lucrative industry akin to politics and religion in its influence and economic magnitude.

[29:33] A: "Baseball is a very powerful entity... beyond a trillion dollar industry."

He notes the disparity in salaries, pointing out that even role players today earn more than top athletes from his time, underscoring the sport's financial evolution.

[29:56] B: "Wow. How does that make you feel?"

[29:59] A: "It's part of the progression of baseball."

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Closing Thoughts and Future Plans

As the episode wraps up, Canseco shares his plans to reduce public engagements and enjoy a more relaxed phase of life post-retirement. He humorously reflects on his fighting career, emphasizing the physical toll it took on him.

[31:18] A: "People have this very strange morbid curiosity with me."

[35:33] A: "But I say I told you so."

Host Sean Kelly concludes by expressing gratitude for Canseco's openness and insights, leaving listeners with a multifaceted view of a complex and often controversial figure in the world of sports.

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Notable Quotes

• Jose Canseco [00:01]: "One time I was in a poker tournament with Danielle Stryker... my pocket aces are going to get knocked out by pocket tens."
• Jose Canseco [13:58]: "They let them all and none him. That makes sense."
• Jose Canseco [10:25]: "It maintains the same strength that you come into spring training."
• Jose Canseco [27:14]: "I learned nothing in school. Absolutely zero."
• Jose Canseco [29:56]: "It's part of the progression of baseball."

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Conclusion

This episode of Digital Social Hour offers a rare and unfiltered glimpse into Jose Canseco's life, shedding light on his gambling tales, his unvarnished opinions on MLB's financial and ethical landscape, and his personal journey beyond the baseball diamond. Sean Kelly skillfully navigates through Canseco's anecdotes and assertions, providing listeners with a compelling narrative that intertwines sports, personal growth, and societal critique.

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a sports enthusiast, or someone interested in the intersections of fame and personal struggle, this episode delivers valuable insights and thought-provoking discussions that resonate long after the final word.

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For more engaging conversations and actionable takeaways, subscribe to the Digital Social Hour Podcast and stay tuned for future episodes featuring a diverse range of entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and high achievers.

Transcript

[A]

One time I was in a poker tournament with Danielle Stryker. I was already having a lot of problems with pocket aces. As soon as I sat down, I blanked out. I woke up out of this weird thing that happened to me. My pocket aces are going to get knocked out by pocket tens. She knows when I say this, it happens. Danielle striker raises position one or two pushes all in. I call the all in. Danielle Stryker folds. I look over to the guy and I go, you got pocket tens, don't you? Goes, yeah. How do you know? Because I got pocket aces. He's going to get knocked out of the tournament. With pocket aces against pocket tens, guess what happens.

[B]

All right, guys, Jose Canseco here. We're going to talk some crazy poker stories today, aren't we?

[A]

I've got some serious crazy. The craziest poker story probably in the world with 12 witnesses. As a matter of fact, a person that was there, Daniel Stryker, called Nick Ronald and told him what happened to me. And he said it was impossible.

[B]

Let's dive into it, man. Let's dive straight into it.

[A]

So, I don't know, people knows I've been playing poker for about 42 years. Obviously I'm 60 years old. I'm very old. Yeah.

[B]

So while you were an athlete, you were playing.

[A]

Yeah, okay. We, yeah, of course we play on flights. We play at the clubhouse before the games, usually on rain outs, on flights, of course, in the major level. And a lot of money transpires in those poker games. I remember one time losing to Reggie Jackson a 45 minute flight. I think it was $55,000. So. Yeah, I mean, absolutely. We play a lot of poker. Been doing it for a long time. I played against, you know, Ivan Negrano. The whole combination. Yeah, the whole group, group of the professional players. And, you know, I've done okay, Done okay. But I'll tell you one story that happened to me and I think this is probably gonna be unbelievable, but I do have 12 witnesses that will verify and validate this. I. There was a point in time where I had a lot of problems with pocket aces. So every time I would have pocket aces, pre flop, all in, heads up, I lose every single time to the point where it was 11 in a row, where pre flop, heads up, I lost my pocket aces 11 in a row. Friends of mine will validate and verify. This one time I had pocket aces and I, and I, and I mucked them, I threw them away. The person who pushed all in flopped the straight.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Been 12 times in a row now I'm Going to tell you about pocket aces, a story that you're not going to believe. But if you doubt it, let's get the witnesses. Let's put some money on this. You're gonna see how wrong you are. So I had an issue with Danielle Stryker, who writes books on poker. She writes a lot of poker. She knows me.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And at times, people know me for being able to see unusual things. So one time I was in a poker term with Danielle Stryker and I was in position, I think, seat two or three. She was an eight or nine.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

And as soon as I sat down, remember, I was already having a lot of problems with pocket aces. As soon as I sat down, I blanked out. When I blanked out, I see right in front of my face, my pocket aces. I'm being knocked out of the tournament. I have pocket aces. The person that beats me have pocket tens. I woke up out of this weird thing that happened to me. I kind of stand up and tell Danielle Stryker, hey, Danielle, guess what? The same craps happened to me again. I can see some visions and kind of stuff. My pocket aces are going to get knocked out by pocket tens. And I said it louder than that so the whole table can hear me. And of course, the whole table heard me. They thought I was crazy and stuff like that. But Danielle Stryker looks at me, goes, oh, my God, here we go again. She knows when I say this, it happens a hundred of a hundred times. Automatically happens. Wow. We start the tournament now, the tournament. Obviously you get about an hour and a half for the rebuy. So obviously. So I get knocked out one time. And I think people understand tournament structure. There's probably 100 players there. So usually when you got knocked out, when you want to re enter and rebuy, when they give you a ticket, usually most of the time they give you a different seat. Yeah, I got. I get knocked out, they give me the same seat again, I'm like, okay, still a rebuy period. I get knocked out, they give me the same seat again. Now I'm like, okay, this is obviously an omen, right? I'm supposed to be in this position because I already told you guys, my pocket aces are going to get knocked out by pocket tens. And I keep telling the whole table this. Obviously think I'm crazy. No more rebuys. Now, obviously, it's time to play poker. I get two cards. They're pocket aces. True, legit. I'm going to tell you exactly how it happened. Goes around, I think, Danielle striker raises position one or two Pushes all in. I call the all in. Danielle Striker folds. I look over to the guy and I go, you got pocket 10, don't you? Goes, yeah. How do you know? Because I got pocket aces. We throw down the cards. Pocket aces against pocket 10. Remember, there's no more rebuys. Now everybody's thinking, oh, my God. He just said a while back ago, he's going to get knocked out of the tournament with pocket aces against pocket tens. Guess what happens. Flop comes out in the window. A 10 out of the tournament.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Think about what I just said. The odds of that. Danielle Stryker calls Negreano, explains to him what happened. Because that's impossible. The only way that could have happened is if he saw the future. I said, that's exactly what happened. 12 witnesses were there, players and two other. And literally they were speechless. And a couple of them turned stone cold white. True story.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

You can't make that up.

[B]

That is nuts. So have you always had these visions?

[A]

Yes.

[B]

So do you think you're kind of psychic in a way though?

[A]

No. What do you think it is? The only psych. If you control them. Like for example, one, one time, the first time I met Danielle Stryker made a poker tournament. We just sat next to each other, we started talking. I said, watch this. I want to show you something. Every time I get a pocket ace in my hand, I'm not going to hit it for like 35 times. I'm never on the flop. Nothing. 35 times. Exactly. You can call her and verify it. Strangest thing I ever seen.

[B]

You have some curse with pocket A. Yeah.

[A]

But here's another funny thing. At times I can tell what each person's holding and what they have.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

But it doesn't matter because it's uncontrollable. You can't control it.

[B]

So it kind of just happens. In random.

[A]

It kind of just happens. But the problem is you can't control the flop. Turn a river.

[B]

Right.

[A]

That's why I believe in poker, anybody can win. Even if you know the opponent's cards, you may have a slight percentage, but controlling the flop, Turner river is impossible.

[B]

Right. Because you could be up 20 and still lose.

[A]

It doesn't matter.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

It's irrelevant.

[B]

Did you get these visions with baseball, too? Like you would picture yourself or something.

[A]

It's only with numbers.

[B]

Numbers.

[A]

Only with cards. Only with numbers. Yeah.

[B]

Interesting. Wow.

[A]

Yeah. As a matter of fact, there's another one you can look up. Caesar's Palace. I have a record.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I lost 21 hands in a row in blackjack.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Dealer pulled 11 blackjacks on me.

[B]

What?

[A]

Never played blackjack again. That was 2000. Never played blackjack name with one hand again. Not even for fun. Never. That's how traumatized I am.

[B]

Blackjack, that's make suck. The odds of losing 21 times in a row has to be like.

[A]

And the deal of putting 11 blackjacks on you.

[B]

Yeah. It has to be.001% impossible.

[A]

So definitely I don't play blackjack anymore. I love poker though. I still play poker.

[B]

Yeah. So do you only stick with poker in terms of gambling? No baccarat or.

[A]

Nope, only poker. That's it.

[B]

And would you say you're up or down on poker overall?

[A]

I would say I might be close to even around there. Yeah. I don't play the high six. I never. Part of. The, part of the problem I had with pocket aces that I was hired one time to be a ringer in the Bahamas, believe it or not, to play against multi millionaires. And I lost I think seven or eight times in a row pre flop, all in pocket aces head. Geez.

[B]

This is different from the 11 times.

[A]

No, this is the continuance of the 11 times total. Yeah.

[B]

So dude, that is traumatized.

[A]

So here's what's gonna happen. If I were you guys, I'd note this because tomorrow I get pocket aces pre flop, all into per. I get knocked out. You're not going to laugh, you're going to say oh my God, this is ridiculous.

[B]

That's crazy.

[A]

And ironically enough, happens a lot.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So hopefully we'll see what happens.

[B]

That's nice, man. Well, congrats on the hall of fame stuff. I just saw you.

[A]

Thank you. Thank you.

[B]

Nominated. How does that process work?

[A]

It was a great process. I don't know how it worked. I don't know how I finally got in, but yeah, it's been a while. Oh my God. 20 some odd years. It took some of the players 20 some odd years. So I figured they let the let this steroid scandal kind of die down and stuff like that. But yeah, through that time I was with the Ace with 86 through 92. I mean we had a great team. Yeah, I did well for them. We had a great team. We want to went to the world series three times. We won one. So you know, I guess better late than never. But I enjoyed it completely. Yeah, it was a lot of fun.

[B]

That's awesome. Do you think there's more steroid use now or in your generation?

[A]

Oh, my generation, obviously. Oh my God. My generation. 80, 90. Oh, we were. Listen, the players run at the pitchers, infielders, outfield, umpires running, coaches running, everybody. Wait.

[B]

The umpires run, fans running.

[A]

Everybody was on it. No, I mean, it's exaggeration, but. Oh, yeah, I was. It was part of the game back then. Today, I don't. I, you know, I don't think so. I don't think it's. It's worth it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

To be honest. Yeah. I think there's a three strikes you're out kind of combination the first time to give you a slap in the hand or.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So they're going to test you at least in spring training and maybe two or three times during the season. I don't know where that test result is going to go to. I mean, it's kind of. Kind of like an internal testing process that they have. So.

[B]

And it's random, though. They don't tell you when the test.

[A]

It's random. And, you know, so many things go on.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

For example, let's say, for argument's sake, Ohtani gets tested positive for. For a substance. Nobody's going to say anything. He. He's the face of baseball. Or judge. He's the face of baseball.

[B]

Right.

[A]

Obviously, if they find something, they're going to have a little meeting with them or with his agents or his attorney. And so for listening, that's what we found. Hopefully we don't find it again. Give him a chance to clear it up or clean it up. So.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I don't think it's going to be an issue again, if someone does. Does test positive for a substance that might be over the counter. A supplement that is legal today, but it's against baseball rules and regulations. That may happen. Yeah. Yeah, I. I don't think that will be a problem anymore.

[B]

It's not as prevalent.

[A]

No, I don't think it's as prevalent.

[B]

And how much do you think it enhanced your abilities? Say you had 10 home runs one season and then you took it the next season.

[A]

I don't know, because I'll tell. I'll tell you a funny story. This is weird. The. The year I was off steroids. Which year? 1998, when I was with the Toronto Blue Jays, I actually hit 46 home runs, the most I'd ever hit.

[B]

Whoa.

[A]

Yeah. So that's the year I was the leanest. 228 pounds usually, that. Usually I was playing about 250.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And that's the year I hit the most home run. So it doesn't make you an athlete. Doesn't give you A hand, eye coordination. What it really does is it, it maintains the same strength that you come into spring training because it's such a long game, such a long season. Spring Training is like 25 to 30 games the season, 162 playoffs in the World Series. Talk about 220 games a year. Yeah, that's a lot of games, a lot of wear and tear, a lot of traveling. So it doesn't give you athletic ability. But I will say what it really does is maintain your strength during the whole year.

[B]

Right.

[A]

And back then, trainers who use it for athletes or baseball players, because their main job is if you get injured is to get you off that injured list of disabled list back then get you back playing. So does it help you recuperate faster, Develop muscle tissue? Muscle tissue faster? Absolutely. Yes. So for us as athletes, it wasn't about the, about our size. It was about our recovery and maintaining what we came with in spring training.

[B]

Wow, that's interesting because I just assumed it made you stronger and you would hit more home runs.

[A]

What it does is it helps you to maintain that strength that you come into spring training.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Through the whole entire year.

[B]

Got it.

[A]

So if that's the definition of making you stronger or keeping you stronger.

[B]

Yes, that makes sense. So it helps prevent injuries in a way.

[A]

I don't know if it helps prevent injuries, but I, I know it helped you recover from injuries faster, especially with muscle tears and so forth.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Wow, that's interesting. So I wonder if a lot of the old NBA guys were on it too.

[A]

I, I would say back then, I would. In the 80s and 90s.

[B]

Yeah. Because it was a muscle in every sport.

[A]

I mean, you got, you got track and field, you got football. I, I'll see baseball, you've got hockey. I mean, I think, I think every sport in general, NBA. I think every sport in general was using it. Absolutely. Why not? It wasn't really legal against any regulations, so why not?

[B]

Yeah, because basketball was way more physical back then.

[A]

Well, basketball is physical, but again, a lot of wear and tear in the body. And people associate steroids with size. Not all steroids give you size. For example, sprinters, for example, cyclists. A lot of it is for lean muscle mass. A lot of it. Some type of steroids, some type of bronchial dilate and so forth, give you more oxygen to the actual muscle, which enables you to grow muscle faster. Yes. But I think power lifters and bodybuilders give steroids a bad name because they're such big, strong guys.

[B]

Right.

[A]

So don't they're. Their main thing is putting on bulk and really abusing those type of chemicals. Athletes in general, depending on your sport, it was more. More about maintaining what you already have. It wasn't about building and bulking up.

[B]

Yeah, that makes sense. So I saw you tweet about the hall of Fame and you knew some players that were taking steroids.

[A]

Well, obviously the hall of Fame has inducted five or six players that I know personally and they know I know who they are.

[B]

And does the hall of Fame know you think, or they don't know?

[A]

Oh, everybody knows. I think obviously the hall of Fame knows. Obviously the players know I know they know, fans know. The only thing I say is that Major League Baseball shouldn't be or the voting system shouldn't be so hypocritical because either you let them all and you none him. That makes sense.

[B]

Right?

[A]

That doesn't make any sense to cherry pick and hand pick individuals that tested positive for steroids or that I injected personally myself and came out in my book, let them go into the hall of Fame when other players just on suspicion alone, are not in the hall of Fame with incredible stats.

[B]

Right.

[A]

That's what I'm saying. Be even without. Be equal with everybody. That's.

[B]

Yeah, because I remember Barry Bonds didn't get in.

[A]

Right.

[B]

That was a big deal.

[A]

That's ridiculous. I mean, how, how can, how can Barry Bonds not get in? How can M. Mark Maguire not get in? How can Alex Rodriguez not not get in? Sammy Sosa, I mean, there's so many players that are in the 600 home run club or upper echelon. Five hundreds, Cy Young's, MVP's, way better stats than the players that were inducted in the hall of Fame. Now that use pds.

[B]

Right.

[A]

It doesn't make any sense.

[B]

None at all.

[A]

It makes no sense at all. But of course, the hypocritical system that Major League Baseball uses is out of control.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

You know, I, I don't see. I don't think it's a big deal to be in Major League Baseball hall of Fame because it's so corrupt and so hypocritical. It's starting to make no sense.

[B]

Really.

[A]

It really not start making no sense anymore.

[B]

I could see that because the NBA hall of Fame holds a lot of weight, but I don't really hear about the Baseball hall of Fame that often, to be honest.

[A]

Well, because. Because now they're, they're, they're having individuals vote with personal issues towards players. For example, if the hall of Fame voting was Constructed through a computer.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Stats are being. The criterias are being put into this computer, then the player stats are being put in with no emotions, with no agendas, the Halls of Fame structure will be completely different. Some that are in would not be in, and some that are out would be in. The problem is that you're getting a human influence behind the voting, which makes no sense because now comes in agendas. If you like somebody, if that person turned you down for an interview back then, 10, 15, 20 years ago, and you hold the grudge against them. So the hall of Fame has become a shambles. It's become a shame. Just because the human influence in it.

[B]

They should rename it to the hall of Shame.

[A]

It should be the Hall. Well, it should be. It should be the hall of Shame because again, there's many instances where Major League Baseball has shown his hypocrisy. The last one, of course, is inducting four or five players that everyone knows they tested positive for PEDs and are still in the hall of Fame. Meanwhile, some of the greatest players of our era are not in the hall of Fame. It makes no sense. It just really. It's. It's so stupid that when you really look at. If you know baseball and you really look at what I'm talking about. Yeah, he's right. It doesn't make any sense. The hall of Fame, now, the hall of Shame, it's stupid, right? Because the hypocrisy behind it, it's not because who the players are in, that's fine. It's because the way that, the way the system is being run, the hypocrisy behind it, that's what it really is.

[B]

Where do you stand on Derek Jeter in the hall of Fame? Because you tweeted out he's the most overrated shortstop.

[A]

He's still a Hall of Fame player, but he's still. I mean, people say that he's the greatest shortstop ever. No, he's not. I mean, he's top five. He's a great shortstop. He definitely belongs in hall of fame 100. But he's not the top shortstop ever. I mean, Alex Rodriguez, even though I didn't even like Alex, you know that, Alex, because I don't like you. His stats are 10 times better than. Than Alex Rodriguez, to me, is the best shortstop in history.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

In every category. He blows everybody away. So.

[B]

And you're sitting here saying that even though you hate him, it's a fact.

[A]

You can't, you know, you don't let your personal. This is Water. It's a fact.

[B]

No, I like that fact.

[A]

Guys, I'm sorry, but it's a fact. Cell phone is a fact. I'd be stupid to say this. Rhinoceros. No, stupid.

[B]

Well, I like that you stay objective because some people let their personal lives bleed into facts.

[A]

No, no. You asked me about his stats. Now you asked me upon him personally. He's an. He's an idiot and I can't stand him. But now you talk about his stats. His performance are incredible, right? Absolutely. Yeah.

[B]

Is there ever a world where you and him make up?

[A]

No.

[B]

You think it's too far?

[A]

No. I don't even want to deal with it. First of all, I don't deal with people of his level, of his consistent ignorance and stupidity and his constant narcissism. The man can lie like you wouldn't believe. The man is crazy. Everybody knows him will tell you the same thing. So, no, I can't do.

[B]

You're talking about the steroid thing?

[A]

I'm talking about everything in general. Talking about his personality in general. Yeah, absolutely. He and you, you know, I know. She was 17 years old.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Did you see the fame get to him and change him?

[A]

Absolutely. 100%. He used to be the nicest guy. When he signed this big, as a matter of fact, I'm the one that told him to go to Texas. I was friends with his family, his mom, everybody go to Texas. Hear them out. They have a brand new stadium. They have a lot of money. They want to invest in a face for the franchise. Before they signed the deal, his mom calls me. Yeah. And says, Jose, you wouldn't believe in Spanish. Of course she speaks Spanish. Because you wouldn't believe how much money they're going to offer Alex. I said, how much? He goes. She goes, 252 million for 10. You have to take the deal right now.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Do not walk out. Take. And they did the deal on the spot. So. Yeah. I mean, I know a lot about Alex and he knows I know a lot about Alex. Remember me? A heart. I love. I love messing with him. He's such an idiot. He's such a punk.

[B]

But if he came out and apologized to you, would that make up for.

[A]

He would never do it.

[B]

You don't.

[A]

Narcissistic people don't. Don't apologize. And they don't realize when they're wrong. Yeah. They don't care.

[B]

So he's never reached out to you?

[A]

No. Better not. No.

[B]

Wow. Damn. Because you guys were really close.

[A]

Yeah. Absolutely. No. Yeah.

[B]

No, that's Crazy. And I've never seen you talk negatively about anyone else.

[A]

Truth hurts.

[B]

Yeah, that one must have really. Truth hurts because you guys were best friends at one point, right?

[A]

Wherever.

[B]

Yeah, like you were like a mentor almost.

[A]

Absolutely.

[B]

Damn, that's wild. So Having just turned 60, is there anything you're looking to switch up in in this next phase of life now?

[A]

Stop getting older, try to slow down the aging process.

[B]

You look good for 60 months.

[A]

No, I don't feel it. I feel pretty good. But of course, you're 60. You gotta, you know, take care of yourself, work out, stop try to slow down the aging process and just, you know, continue looking everything positive, having fun in life.

[B]

Nice.

[A]

That's basically. I get involved a lot with, you know, poker, charities, speaking engagements, homeroom derbies, bowling. I try to stay active as much as possible. And I think that's the only thing you have when you get older. 50, 67 years old, 70s to stay active.

[B]

What's the most high score in bowling you've ever had?

[A]

289.

[B]

Damn, that's almost a perfect game.

[A]

That's a long time ago.

[B]

So you're nice. You're nice though.

[A]

I got about 210 average.

[B]

210 average? Dude, that's no joke.

[A]

Yeah, but it's still.

[B]

That's almost professional level.

[A]

No, it's not.

[B]

Don't they both.

[A]

I think the pros are 230 average or something.

[B]

So you're close though.

[A]

Too far away. No, too far away.

[B]

Was baseball always the sport you were most dominant in growing up?

[A]

Actually, I love ping pong.

[B]

Ping pong?

[A]

I love to play ping pong.

[B]

We're gonna have to play that together. I used to play in China.

[A]

Yeah. Really?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But baseball, I mean, I wasn't. When I was little, when I was a kid, I was. I was. People weren't gonna believe I was a shrimp. You were 6 foot 4? 206 foot 4 and a half, 260 pounds. I was a shrimp. When I was kid, I was the smallest, the weakest, skinniest. In high school, I think I graduated 5, 10, 160 pounds.

[B]

Whoa.

[A]

So, yeah, and parents would let me play football. That was gonna. They were gonna kill me. And then I had the weirdest latest growth spurt after high school. That was crazy. As a matter of fact, you're gonna find something ironic is that when I was in the major leagues, when I first came into the major leagues, I was 63 and I had a size 12 shoe. I'm now 6 foot 4 and a half in a size 14 shoe.

[B]

Whoa.

[A]

So I'm actually kind of still growing.

[B]

So you kept growing after your 20s.

[A]

Weird.

[B]

Yes, that is unheard of. Dude. Usually you shrink at your age. You got some interesting genetics.

[A]

Interesting genetics.

[B]

Are your kids tall?

[A]

Well, my daughter Josie. Supermodel. Yeah, Josie Cano. So. She's gorgeous. Looks like her mother. She's got my height, my belt, very muscular. But with her mom's looks.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

She got the perfect combination. Thank God you to get my looks on. She's. Yeah, she's beautiful.

[B]

Nice. So you got one kid? You only have one kid?

[A]

One daughter, yes.

[B]

Nice.

[A]

That I know of. My one daughter.

[B]

Only childs are top fired. Yeah, they get a little spoiled sometimes.

[A]

Yeah, I mean she's a good girl. She's actually very level headed. Very, very smart, very streetwise.

[B]

Nice.

[A]

Very good. Yeah.

[B]

I'm an only child too.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. It's tough though.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Growing up around people with siblings and.

[A]

Oh yeah.

[B]

Kind of a lonely world sometimes.

[A]

Oh yeah, I guess it's. Sometimes it could be lonely no matter who you are and sometimes it could be overbearing. Overbearing attention. So you have to kind of balance both.

[B]

Right. You taught her poker at 10 years old?

[A]

First time I taught her poker, she played poker tournament at my house and the buy in was. I think it was 500. It was. I put her in.

[B]

That's a lot for 10 year olds.

[A]

Yeah. No, and it was two tables and she actually won what, the tournament. She won like $8,000.

[B]

Damn.

[A]

She won the tournament and. But she's very lucky. She knows the basics of the actual game, but she's very lucky. Had a great time. Had. And all of a sudden now she loves poker. So she plays in this event, several events. But she loves to play poker now.

[B]

Nice. So pass it down, man. Yeah, she'll teach her kids.

[A]

You better have some luck to win this game, I'll tell you that much. So don't bet on me to win even. I'm going to win on myself tomorrow. But don't bet on me.

[B]

Yeah. How much luck do you think is needed in poker?

[A]

I would say, I mean I've been playing poker for a very long time. I would say luck beat skill any day.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

Any day. Obviously, to be honest with you, I've played against the best in the world. I kind of see poker being as probably 60 skill and 40 luck.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

But if you have luck, it's going to be skill any day because obviously you can't control the flop, turn a river, so. And that's why People have to look at it this way. 30, 40 years ago, how many entries were in the the World Series of Poker?

[B]

Not as many. Right.

[A]

40, 50, 100. Now, since people are starting to realize, learn the game, learn. Learn the math, learn the structure of the game. Every year now we're having 13,000, 14,000 people at 10,000 a pop. Because anybody really realizes with $10,000, common skills and luck, you become a millionaire.

[B]

Absolutely.

[A]

And that's the way it is. That's what everybody's taking a shot at now.

[B]

Yeah. Do you use those solvers or the programs, or do you just play old school stuff?

[A]

I've seen a bunch of. The thing is, you can't locked into one. You cannot get locked into one strategy because other players are smart. They'll figure it out. So for me, you have to be consistently inconsistent in this game. But also, one of the biggest things is your hands have to hold up. It's like I said, your hands have to hold up. You can have the best hand possible. You can trap opponents left and right. These opponents can hit one outers, two on, outers on. You hit runner, runners, and you're gone.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That's the way the game is structured. You gotta have a little bit of luck.

[B]

Who do you consider as the goat of poker? You're friends with these guys, so probably the grinder.

[A]

Ivy.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

102, I think because they are consistent grinders. I think because they're well known in the game, they're great for the game. They promote the game incredibly well. They have the most wins. Hellmuth, Phil.

[B]

Phil Hellmuth.

[A]

Phil Hellmuth. I would love to play against him.

[B]

I could arrange that.

[A]

I mean, he's 6 5. I actually like him, but man, that guy talks a lot. I would love to play against him. He's just funny. It'll be the clash of the titans. I'm six four, five and a half. He's six foot five. That'll be funny to play against.

[B]

I'll set that up if you want. Yeah, but he plays pretty, pretty high on those heads up. I think, like 100,000 bucks or something.

[A]

Yeah. So, yeah, I mean, those guys are good for the game. They're entertainers. I think the game obviously needs guys to promote them. They need entertainers, they need characters, they need the heel, they need the good guy, they need the guys that talk a lot. The serious guys.

[B]

Yeah. What's your style? You talk a lot. You. You talk?

[A]

No, no, not really. Unless I've had playing poker turns before and somebody will be Staring at me, looking at the phone. Yeah, you, Jose Canseco. And I'll be like, yes. He'll go, no, you're not. I go, no, I'm not. Then. And if I say I'm not Jose, yes, you are. Yes, you are. Like, so you can't win. I've had a lot of guys, kind of. Because they love playing against me. The problem is, when I play, people love to get in hands with me. Why so? Because the story is I either lost to Jose Conseco or won again. Jose. They love the story to tell.

[B]

Right.

[A]

So that's another issue. So sometimes I have to play in some senses, not looser, but tighter than other situations because a lot of people love to get in hands with me and give me bad beats. Just part of the process.

[B]

That must be part of it. Yeah.

[A]

You can use it to your advantage or you can't. Yeah, depends.

[B]

I was going through your Twitter. I thought this tweet was super interesting. You tweeted out the school system is creating slaves and idiots on purpose. Did you send your daughter to school?

[A]

Public school, private. But my daughter. See, here's the thing I learned. I learned nothing in school. I mean, absolutely zero. I learned everything in life. And I'm talking about math, vocabulary, skill, everything. I learned business is in life. I learned nothing. Nothing. When I. When I got out of high school, I didn't know how to make a check. I had no idea what it was.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So is our society today, our school society, creating slaves for the system? Absolutely. Everybody knows that common sense will tell you that they're creating what you call an infrastructure for the billionaires and trillionaires, for our politicians to basically tax all the time. Common sense. It's all over YouTube. If you really analyze it, put your mind to it, that's exactly what it's doing. I don't recommend there are only certain subject matters in school. I do recommend maybe maths and vocabulary skills, some science. That's about it. Why don't schools teach business entrepreneurship at that level? Because they don't want you to know that stuff. They want that for the higher ups. So just. If I had a kid today. I mean, I'm dating. My fiance has two kids, or 10, 11.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I keep telling her about the school system. And think about this hasn't changed in 30 years.

[B]

No longer.

[A]

Why? Think about it. It's ridiculous.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So it's kind of obvious what. What it's doing.

[B]

Yeah. I hope you convince her to take them out, man. For real. That's a Lot of damage to the kid.

[A]

It's. It's crazy. It's just, it's creating. What's creating.

[B]

It holds them back for years. Like when they get to college even.

[A]

It makes them all robots. That's what it does. It makes them all robots.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And for the system, that's what it needs. Robots.

[B]

Absolutely. Did you graduate college?

[A]

No, I was right in high school. I got drafted.

[B]

Oh, so you didn't even go to college?

[A]

No.

[B]

Wow. That wasn't common back then, right?

[A]

Well, yes and no. But like I said, I learned nothing in school. Zero. Like I said, I left school and couldn't write out a check. Didn't know anything about business, mathematics, nothing. I learned all that outside of school.

[B]

Wow. Who taught you all that stuff?

[A]

Just living life. Internet. I mean, look, you can go to YouTube right now and get, and get courses on anything you want. And we'll teach you way more than high school will teach you. The Internet will teach you in one year way more than high school will teach you in three to four years. That is a fact.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Why waste three or four years of your life from ninth grade to graduation when you can take courses on, on the Internet and learn, master whatever you want to master. That question absolutely makes no sense to me.

[B]

Yeah. Did you see a lot of your teammates and your peers go financially broke after they retired?

[A]

Back then, a lot were, because I don't think back then they were educating the players.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And today the money's out of control. I mean, the money's crazy. To put in perspective, minimum salary back then was 60,000. Today minimum salary is 600,000.

[B]

So 10x.

[A]

The best players back then were making, like myself, 5 million a year.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

The best players today are making 50 to 60 million a year. Put in perspective, a utility player today who never cat never plays makes more than the best players of my era.

[B]

Wow. How does that make you feel?

[A]

It's part of the progression of baseball. It, you know, it's a way, it's evolved. That just goes to show you how, how powerful baseball really is. It's beyond a trillion dollar industry.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

I mean, it's crazy. So if you can afford to pay players in general, 50, 60 million dollars a year, if you're running a business, you have a company, obviously you have to be making 2 or 3x more than that for that specific player or from that specific player in other venues, be able to pay him that. So baseball is a very powerful entity. It's like politics, religion, and baseball. Those are the three most powerful entities in the world.

[B]

Right. Politics is a whole. Another podcast.

[A]

That's a whole another podcast. You got to be very careful. You can get shot in a second.

[B]

Oh, yeah. I mean, it just happened. Right.

[A]

It's just the way it is.

[B]

Would you ever want to own a baseball team?

[A]

No.

[B]

Be a part owner?

[A]

No. No. There's too much involved, too much time. I'm too old. I'm 60 years old. I paid my dues. I've played, I traveled. Still traveling a lot. Doing autograph sessions, signing speaking engagements, home run derbies. So there's going to come a time probably in a couple years. So I'm just going to stop doing everything.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And just relax and stay home.

[B]

I love that. Are you done with fighting for good?

[A]

Absolutely. The worst fighter in the world. Even though. Hold on a minute. They. It pays a lot of money. It's.

[B]

You got a lot for that fight.

[A]

Which one?

[B]

The one where you. Was it barstool sports?

[A]

Over a million dollars for that fight. 10 seconds.

[B]

It was a quick fight.

[A]

But here's the thing. People don't know this. I was injured completely. Here's the funny part. They actually. It's so funny because I took a physical.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I didn't pass a physical.

[B]

You didn't even pass.

[A]

No. I had a bad knee. I couldn't stand on. Stand on my knee. I couldn't raise my hands over. My shoulder was torn. And they passed me. Of course, for the whole money, the whole situation, it was promoted quite well. We. It broke. So their pay per view. We broke their previous pay per view record by three times. Damn. Right. Yeah. So people have this very strange morbid curiosity with me. Either they want to see me killed or they want to see me succeed. It's kind of very strange with me.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because I guess I kind of present this. This individual no one, no one really understands as a baseball player, as a personality. So it's kind of weird how pay per view sold so well. But I couldn't fight at all. Literally, when he came at me, my knee buckled and then went. And I threw a left jab. I tore my whole chest. This shoulder was already gone. But actually, when I went down and hit the ring, I popped this shoulder out. So by the time I was in the locker room back then, this shoulder was bleeding out. This. This was bleeding out. And I. And I tore my. My right knee again. So I had to have surgery right away.

[B]

Damn. Why do you think you have such a polarizing audience?

[A]

I think people are consistently trying to figure out who I am.

[B]

You're misunderstood.

[A]

I think there's a weird curiosity with me, a weird obsession. People tell me this all, all the time. It's kind of. I don't understand it, but I guess because then in the past, the way I did things, I did carry around 245 pounds. I did run a 42940.

[B]

So I woke.

[A]

I was a football player, basically hit baseball 600ft, did unusual things, but I don't know. Also, I did write number one bestselling book.

[B]

Right.

[A]

That kind of exposed, like, kind of jolted the world of baseball. And I think that has a lot, lot to do with it even to.

[B]

This day, because that book was a.

[A]

While ago, right till today.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

They're still, they'll still. They're still being talked about in certain circles. And again, when I bring this up about the hall of Fame. Oh, how, you know, hypocrisy, they. How there's such hypocrites. It makes me sick. I guess it kind of stirs a strong in.

[B]

Yeah. So who actually chooses the players? Is it you said the writers?

[A]

Oh, the writers vote on it.

[B]

They have 100% of the vote. Because the NBA, it's split up.

[A]

Yes, they have 100% of the vote.

[B]

That's really weird because NBA, it's like 25% writers. I think fan is 25 and then players are 50.

[A]

Let's put it in perspective, see if people understand this. Ken Griffey Jr. First Battle hall of Fame, 100% was in the PED eras. Never touched PDS. 600 plus home runs, best 52 player ever seen. Him and Bonds, to me, were the two best players in history.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So obviously Ken Griffey Jr. Should have been first ballot hall of Fame all the way across the board, easily. One person didn't vote for him. Think about what I just said. The mentality of these writers. These writers will see this chapstick. If you ask a thousand people, what is. What is this chapstick? Imagine, out of 8 billion people, one says, that ain't a chapstick. That's a horse. That's the problem we're having, right.

[B]

Because that writer could have been a fan of his opponent's team.

[A]

It doesn't make any sense. So that, that just goes to show you the hypocrisy, what we're dealing with, the kind of mix that we're dealing with there, the maybe the psychological inequities that we're dealing with here.

[B]

Do you think the fans should have a say in the vote?

[A]

No, no, no. I mean, it's just too many. Too many fans. I mean, you have to have. For me, it's simple. You have. Yeah. You have a computer. You have a computer programming. You put in the information, the data, and whatever qualifies the computer spits out hall of fame or not.

[B]

Okay, so just purely numbers.

[A]

Purely numbers. That's what it really should be. It's not. It's emotional, It's. It's agendas. It's ridiculous.

[B]

Yeah. Feel that, man. Jose, good luck tomorrow, man. Anything else you want to close off with here?

[A]

I'm going to need a whole bunch of luck. I'm going to bet on myself and I'm going to lose.

[B]

Let's go.

[A]

But if. But here's the key. You guys keep track. If I get pocket ace and I get knocked out, I'm coming back on. I say I told you so.

[B]

I'll be keeping an eye on it. That. Thanks for coming on, man.

[A]

Thank you, guys.

[B]

Yeah. Thanks for watching, guys.

[A]

Peace.