Exclusive: Movie planned on life of baseball’s Jose Canseco

Editor’s note: Former Major League Baseball superstar Jose Canseco spoke exclusively with Bob Labbe of the Madison Record about the former All-Star’s scheduled return to Huntsville in August. During his conversation with Labbe, the lone remaining working local sports reporter who covered Canseco when he played for the Huntsville Stars in 1985, Canseco spoke of several subjects of exclusive content Labbe will share with readers over the next two months.

MADISON- On Thursday, Aug. 28, the Rocket City Trash Pandas will host a special Huntsville Stars Throwback Night to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the former Double-A team which opened play that year at Huntsville’s Joe Davis Stadium. Expected to return to the area for that special celebration will be 17-year Major League Baseball veteran Jose Canseco and his twin brother Ozzie, both of whom played for the Huntsville Stars.

During a recent telephone interview with The Madison Record, Canseco, now 61, spoke of his short time in Huntsville and how it’s been almost 40 years since he last stepped foot on the soil of the Rocket City. The two-time World Series Champion, six-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger Award winner completed his Major League career with a .266 batting average, 462 homeruns and 1,407 RBIs. He became a household name overnight on and off the field. He was a celebrity as big as one can become and opened up publicly with a book titled “Juiced” about his and others in baseball who ventured into steroid use. The reaction from most was not positive and he was soon blackballed from the sport.

Life Turns Into Movie

His life was in turmoil. He went through all of the money he made in baseball, which was estimated by Canseco to be around $55 million through bad investments, lavish living and two nasty divorces all of which led to bankruptcy. At one time Canseco said he had $20 to his name and lived day-to-day. Even his one child, daughter Josie, was to have stated she kept up the look and actions of living a rich-type lifestyle to protect her father. Soon, she would become a successful model and is now 28 years old.

Canseco went from growing up in Miami, to baseball superstar and top-notch celebrity to at one time living in a garage. His life story was worth telling.

In his exclusive conversation, Canseco spoke of a planned upcoming Hollywood movie on his life.

“I recently signed a deal to do a movie on my life from moving to Florida from Cuba to where I am today,” said Canseco, from his five-thousand square foot home in Las Vegas, he shares with his fiancé, Erin Querio, of two years, and which features no natural grass, but complete coverage by artificial turf. “This is expected to be a major film. The script is in development right now and I’ll be heavily involved in the production from start to finish.”

The ups-and-downs of Canseco’s life have all the makings for an amazing Hollywood film. Growing up in Cuba with nothing, to becoming MVP with two World Series rings and back to the bottom again after being black-balled by Major League Baseball. But at the core of it all is a simple man. A man who made a promise to his dying mother to become the best ballplayer in the world.

No movie title or possible cast has been released.

Brings Back The Long Ball

Canseco currently makes special appearances, speaking engagements and plays in charity softball and golf tournaments and poker tournaments, among other work related items in his life. He ventured in business of late with the PX 4040 a new and unique hitting device for baseball, softball and golf. Developed by Canseco and endorsed by Ken Griffey, Jr., the groundbreaking invention is thought to revolutionize the art of power hitting and swinging in all three sports.

“My PX 4040 arm brace invention will bring back the long ball,” said Canseco.

Parkway Jose

The slugger played just less than a half season in Huntsville in 1985 as the team went on to win the Southern League Championship even after Canseco’s departure to Triple-A. “What a year that was as I went from Double-A, to Triple-A to the Major Leagues all in one year. I even remember several of the 25 homeruns I had in Huntsville that were long balls and went so far, many thought the balls went to the nearby Memorial Parkway, thus my nickname ‘Parkway Jose’,” said Canseco. “What’s sad is the fact I actually have zero video footage of my play in Huntsville.”

On Aug. 28 at Toyota Field, the Trash Pandas will wear 40th anniversary jerseys in honor of the Stars and auction off those after the game. Canseco and his brother, along with other former Huntsville Stars who have been invited, will have an autograph signing session for the fans and will throw out the ceremonial first-pitch.

“I usually stand out in a crowd at 6-foot-4, 270-pounds as I stay in shape with a gym I have in my home and I still can hit 450-500-foot homeruns in softball,” said Canseco.

Details on the planned movie on Canseco are expected to be released soon.

More exclusive fun-facts on Canseco from his exclusive interview with the Madison Record will be available in future writings in both The Madison Record and the Madison Living Magazine.