Fort Myers, Fla. ? Mike Greenwell was runner-up in the American League MVP voting in 1988 and wants everyone to know why that happened: Jose Canseco, who won the award, cheated.

In his book released this week, Canseco discussed his steroid use and accused other players of using the illegal substance. His tainted success, Greenwell said Thursday, deprived other players of recognition and honors. Greenwell spent his entire career as a Red Sox outfielder from 1985 through 1996 and hit .303. He was teammates with Canseco for his last two seasons.

“I would have never said a word, but now that Jose’s admitted he was using steroids during the time he beat me (for) the MVP, then I have a problem with that because, obviously, I wasn’t playing on an even playing field,” Greenwell said.

“He reaped a lot of rewards and a lot of benefits for being on an illegal drug and probably took something away from me that I never got to feel. So does it bother me? Absolutely.”

He said he didn’t care about having the MVP award given to him but “I just want it acknowledged that as far as I’m concerned, he cheated while he won it.”

Greenwell is a volunteer assistant baseball coach at Riverdale High School, just outside Fort Myers. He attended North Fort Myers High School.

On Thursday, he showed up at the Red Sox spring training complex.

In 1988, Canseco hit .307 with 42 homers, 124 RBIs and 40 stolen bases for Oakland, which lost the World Series in five games to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Greenwell hit .325 with 22 homers and 119 RBIs.

“Jose is actually a good guy,” Greenwell said. “I consider him a friend” but hasn’t spoken with him in about two years.

He also said Canseco’s book might help address the steroid problem by drawing attention to it.