Jose Canseco, most well known for his glorious career in Major League Baseball, was born on July 2, 1964 in Havana, Cuba. Migrating to the United States when he was an infant, Canseco's family settled in a suburb of Miami in Florida.
In 1982, his career in baseball took off after being drafted by the Oakland Athletics. His first full season, however, did not come until four years later, in 1986, when he immediately made a name for himself after being named Rookie of the Year. In 1988, Canseco achieved a milestone in major league history after hitting at least 40 homers and stealing 40 bases in the same year. While sustaining a wrist injury a year later in 1988, Canseco still managed to push the A's to their first World Series victory since 1974. After a string of injuries, trades, and comebacks, he finally retired in May 2002.
In 2005, Canseco caused quite a stir in the professional sporting world after admitting in a book that he used steroids during his career. In the same book, he claimed that around 85 percent of the major league players likewise took steroids, even identifying teammates Mark McGwire and Rafael Palmiero as habitual users. Both had denied the accusation.
In 2005, Canseco was cast in VH1 reality show The Surreal Life Season 5. The show features celebrities who are said to be past their primes and puts them in a Hollywood Hills mansion for two weeks. In this season's circus/carnival theme, Canseco was introduced as “the Fantastic Strongman.” In one of the earlier episodes, Canseco recruited the cast to help him with a book-signing session. In separate episodes, he showed off his wild side by first impersonating George Washington in a Hollywood night club and then dressing in women's lingerie. Two women housemates also showed some interest on him.
(Photo courtesy of VH1)