Sheffield's book to shed light on steroids

January 16, 2007

FREE PRESS NEWS SERVICES

NEW YORK -- In an autobiography to be published this spring, Gary Sheffield, a player known for voicing his displeasure, describes his relationship with Barry Bonds, his link to the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative steroid distribution case and his three turbulent seasons with the Yankees, culminating in his trade to the Tigers in November.

A proof of the book, "Inside Power," was mailed to the New York Times by Crown Publishing. It does not appear to contain any bombshells, but lends candor and insight into baseball's steroids controversy.

As a Yankee, Sheffield was regarded as combative and outspoken, known as much for his chronic complaining about contracts as his bat waggle. He developed a reputation as a superb clutch hitter and as someone who would play hurt.

But Sheffield repeatedly was linked to the steroids scandal that engulfed the sport. He has said he unknowingly used a testosterone-laced cream.

"I've never touched a strength-building steroid in my life -- and never will," Sheffield wrote in the book. "The proof is in pictures and stats."

Sheffield was acquired for pitching prospects Humberto Sanchez, Kevin Whelan and Anthony Claggett.

SALES SURGE: The Tigers sold 520,000 individual spring training tickets Saturday, the first day of sales. That represents a sizable rise over the 290,000 first-day sales in 2006.

Bob Raymond, the club's vice president of marketing and ticket sales, called the figure "very promising," in an e-mail message to the Free Press.

The Tigers will play an exhibition Feb. 27 against Florida Southern in Lakeland, Fla., before hosting Philadelphia in their Grapefruit League home opener March 1.