Former Chicago White Sox slugger Ron Kittle says Jose Canseco should fear for his safety after exposing baseball's steroid problem in his books and with his public statements, the Chicago Tribune reported Tuesday.

"My first thought was: 'I wonder who's going to be the first one to shoot him,'" said Kittle, who was the American League Rookie of the Year in 1983 after hitting 35 home runs. He had 176 career home runs in 10 seasons with the White Sox, Yankees, Indians and Orioles.

"I still think somebody who might have had their life ruined might take vengeance on him. If I were [Canseco], I would think about that.

"That's how I look at things. Maybe it's the wrong way, but I think in [bad] economic times when kids are exposed to it and they get to the big leagues to make the money, they will do [steroids]. But it's the wrong path. It's a quick fix."