Part 6/10:
2. Performance-Enhancing Drugs (PEDs): The second theory aligns with the broader narrative of the steroid era. During the late 1980s, PED use, notably amphetamines, was prevalent among players, which together with the introduction of steroids, raised performance levels considerably. This led some to believe that the reduced success rate in 1988 was a result of players being unable or unwilling to continue their drug use. While compelling, this theory also fails to reconcile the phenomena of sudden spikes contrasting with abrupt drops in home run counts.