Mike Greenwell batted .325 with 22 home runs and 119 RBIs in 1988 but finished second to Jose Canseco in MVP voting. Rick Stewart/Getty Images

Barry Bonds says sports journalists have been writing fiction about his involvement in the BALCO scandal. What's not fiction is that steroids have made an indelible mark on the baseball landscape. But let's play Barry's game for now. Let's write a little fiction. Specifically, let's look at the headlines that might have appeared in the sports pages had steroids never become a part of the national pastime.

Greenwell wins American League MVP award
NEW YORK (Nov., 1988) -- Boston's Mike Greenwell beat out Minnesota's Kirby Puckett for his first American League MVP award. "It's great knowing that honest, hard work can be rewarded like this."

Canseco tries to shed "bust" label
OAKLAND, Calif. (July, 1988) -- The A's once had high hopes for Jose Canseco. But after a decent showing in his rookie season of 1985, the Miami native hasn't been able to hit consistently. Canseco remains unperturbed, however. "I'm going to be such a big star, even Madonna will want to go out with me," he says.

Jeremy says, 'He's not fat, he's my brother'
OAKLAND, Calif. (April, 2000) -- A's utilityman Jeremy Giambi says talent isn't what is holding back his brother, Jason, from becoming a major-league regular. "He'd be great if he could just get in shape," Jeremy said.

Why can't anybody catch Maris?
(Oct., 2001) -- It's been 40 years since Roger Maris broke the single-season home run record, and nobody has come close to the 60 plateau since. "I don't think it can be done," said Mark McGwire, who topped out at 52 in 1996. "The season is too long and the fatigue gets to you. Maybe if I had a little help ..."

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McCovey wonders why there is no bay named after him
SAN FRANCISCO (Oct., 2002) -- Count Willie McCovey among the supporters of the Giants' plan for a new stadium. "They can put it right on the water," the Hall of Famer said. "They can have a statue of me overlooking the marina, which we can rename 'McCovey Cove.' Doesn't that have a nice ring to it?" Alas, the team is exploring a move to Sacramento after years of sagging local support.

Jay-Z opens 30/30 club
NEW YORK (May, 2003) -- Rapper Jay-Z pays homage to multitalented baseball players with the name of his new club, 30/30. "When we were thinking of a name, we wanted something exclusive -- the 30/30 Club in baseball is as exclusive as it gets," the rapper said. "Maybe some day, somebody will reach 40/40 and I can open a whole new club."

Nation rejoices as Ichiro breaks Sisler's hits record
SEATTLE (Oct., 2004) -- Is this what baseball needs, at long last, to rebound from the devastating 1994 strike? Ichiro, the Japanese import who has set the major leagues on fire with his old-school, slash-and-dash style of play, broke one of the most hallowed records in baseball when he collected his 258th hit of the season tonight.

Bonds praises media for "great working relationship"
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (Feb., 2005) -- Barry Bonds ... oh, never mind. Some things are stranger than fiction.