In a statement released by the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday, Mark McGwire admitted to using steroids “on occasion” throughout his career including the 1998 season, when he set the then single season record for home runs with seventy.

“I never knew when,” Mark wrote, “but I always knew this day would come. It’s time for me to talk about the past and to confirm what people have suspected. I used steroids during my playing career and I apologize.”

The former Athletics and Cardinals’ admission should make it easier for him to slip into his new role as the Cardinals hitting coach. Some Cardinals insiders had expressed concern upon his being hired that continued interest in whether he used steroid might become a distraction to the team.

In 2008 we did a long article about Lenny Dykstra and his post-baseball life as an entrepreneur and investment advisor. Since then things have not gone so well for the one-time Mets and Phillies’ hero.

Check out the 2009 Lenny had:

• After boasting of a sixty million dollar fortune early in the year, Lenny filed for bankruptcy.
• Lenny’s wife, Terri, filed for divorce.
• In order to help pay his debt, Lenny was forced to auction off  his 1986 Mets’ World Series ring and trophy.
• Nails was “nailed” with many lawsuits,  bringing the total number of legal actions against him to twenty-four since 2007.

Lenny’s troubles extended to his son, Cutter, as well. The highly touted outfield prospect only managed to hit .212 with the Brewers single A club.

Here’s hoping 2010 brings the Dykstra men some better luck!

Expos and Cubs’ legend Andre Dawson was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame on Wednesday.

The Hawk never won a World Series title during his playing days, but accomplished almost everything else in a twenty-one year career that saw the eight time all-star snag the Gold Glove (Eight times), Rookie of the Year (1977), and Most Valuable Player (1987) awards.

Since hangin’ ‘em up the longtime Miami resident has worked as a special assistant with the Florida Marlins. He finally won a World Series ring as a member of the front office during the team’s 2003 World Champion season.

Congrats, Andre!

Darryl Strawberry has been selected by Donald Trump to compete on the 2010 version of “Celebrity Apprentice.” Among the celebs joining the former Mets and Yankees slugger will be ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, musician Cyndi Lauper, Sharon Osbourne, ”Rock of Love” star Bret Michaels and Olympic gold-medal swimmer Summer Sanders.

The eight time All-Star and 1983 National League Rookie of the Year award winner has significantly rehabilitated his image in recent years, and could do so even more with a good showing on the NBC hit. In addition to starting “The Darryl Strawberry Foundation” which is dedicated to fighting autism, he also wrote the memoir “Straw: Finding My Way,” which chronicles how he overcame adversity including a bout with colon cancer.

Give “The Don” heck, Straw. He can’t be any more demanding than your old boss, George Steinbrenner!

Mentioning former Yankee Ron Blomberg in the same breath as radio legends like Howard Stern and Rush Limbaugh is definitely putting the cart before the horse, but Ron is looking to jump-start a career in radio following a successful appearance with Ed Randall on New York’s popular sports station WFAN. Ideally, Ron told Matt Gagne of The Daily News, he would like to host a bimonthly radio show this summer in New York.

Baseball’s first designated hitter has had an interesting life since injuries forced him to retire in 1978 at the age of just 29. In addition to managing a team in the Israeli Baseball League that won the championship in 2007, Ron wrote a an inspirational autobiography entitled “Designated Hebrew” that chronicles – among other things – his overcoming anti-semitism to become a major leaguer. His book can be purchased on his website.

When not in New York, the career .293 hitter lives in Atlanta with his wife, Beth.