Pittsburgh drug trials

The Pittsburgh drug trials of 1985 were the catalyst for a Major League Baseball-related cocaine scandal. Several current and former members of the Pittsburgh Pirates – Dale Berra, Lee Lacy, Lee Mazzilli, John Milner, Dave Parker, and Rod Scurry – and other notable major league players – Willie Aikens, Vida Blue, Enos Cabell, Keith Hernandez, Jeffrey Leonard, Tim Raines, and Lonnie Smith – were called before a Pittsburgh grand jury. Their testimony led to the drug trials, which made national headlines in September 1985.

Eleven players were officially suspended, but all the suspensions were commuted in exchange for fines, drug testing, and community service.[1] The Pittsburgh drug trials are considered one of baseball's biggest all-time scandals, albeit one that was "behind the scenes" and did not affect play on the field.[2]

Testimony

The players were granted immunity in exchange for their testimony.[3]

Ex-Pirate John Milner talked about getting amphetamines from Hall of Famers Willie Mays and Willie Stargell. Milner added that he bought two grams of cocaine for $200 in the bathroom stalls at Three Rivers Stadium during a Pirates-Houston Astros game in 1980. Keith Hernandez revealed he'd used cocaine for three years. Hernandez later added that about 40% of all Major League Baseball players were using cocaine in the early 1980s[3] – he quickly backtracked, however, saying that he might have been "grossly wrong." Tim Raines admitted keeping a gram of coke in his uniform pocket (as well as revealing that he snorted during games), and that he only slid into bases headfirst so as not to break the vial.[4]

Testimony also revealed that Rod Scurry once left the stadium to go looking for cocaine during the late innings of a Pirates game.[3] Drug dealers frequented the Pirates' clubhouse. Even the Pirate Parrot, Kevin Koch, was implicated for buying cocaine and introducing a few of the ballplayers to a local drug dealer.[5]

Verdict

Dealer Curtis Strong (ostensibly the Philadelphia Phillies' clubhouse caterer)[6] and six Pittsburgh men were convicted and found guilty of 11 counts of distributing cocaine by the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania:[7]

In September 2006, Shiffman and the former mascot Koch were interviewed on HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel in a segment entitled "Under the Influence."[9]

Suspensions

On February 28, 1986, Baseball Commissioner Peter Ueberroth handed down suspensions to 11 players. All the suspensions were commuted in exchange for fines and community service.[5] Ueberroth also asked each suspended player to submit to voluntary urine tests – ultimately, the Players Association thwarted that plea.[10]

Seven players were determined to have been prolonged drug users who had also facilitated distribution to other players, and were suspended for a full season.[10] The players were allowed to continue playing under the condition that they donated 10% of their base salaries to drug-abuse programs, submitted to random drug testing, and contributed 100 hours of drug-related community service.

Four players were suspended for 60 days; they were allowed to continue playing if they donated 5% of base salaries and contributed 50 hours of drug-related community service:[5]

Ten other players were named, but not suspended or otherwise punished. They were, however, subject to random drug testing for the duration of their careers:[10]

Aftermath

In July 1987, a year and a half after the verdicts, and after Commissioner Ueberroth declared that baseball was free of drugs,[3] Lonnie Smith told the Kansas City Times that under his agreement he was supposed to be tested six-to-eight times per year, but had not been tested to-date in 1987. More so, he strongly disagreed with Ueberroth that baseball was then drug-free.[6][3]

Several players went on to rejuvenated careers in the wake of the scandal:

Others continued to struggle with substance abuse:

See also

References

  1. ↑ Craig Neff; Robert Sullivan (March 10, 1986). Scorecard: Groping for a Drug Plan that Will Work," Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  2. ↑ Snyder, Matt (August 5, 2013). "Biogenesis scandal ranks among MLB's biggest in history". Eye on sports. CBS Sports. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Associated Press. "Pittsburgh Cocaine Trial: Baseball's 2nd Biggest Scandal: One Year Later," Los Angeles Times (September 21, 1986).
  4. ↑ Crasnick, Jerry. "Raines, Rickey running toward Cooperstown," ESPN.com (January 11, 2007).
  5. 1 2 3 Cook, Ron. "The Eighties: A terrible time of trial and error," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (September 29, 2000).
  6. 1 2 "Smith blast puts holes in baseball's alleged anti-drug abuse campaign". Lewiston (Maine) Daily Sun. July 29, 1987. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
  7. ↑ Western District of Pennsylvania Federal Court trial description
  8. ↑ "Philadelphia Caterer Is Sentenced to 12 Years for Selling of Cocaine," Los Angeles Times (November 5, 1985).
  9. ↑ "Under the Influence," HBO's Real Sports website (September 19, 2006). Accessed May 15, 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 Bodley, Hal. "Ueberroth took action in 1986 cocaine scandal," USA Today (March 4, 2004).
  11. ↑ Inquirer Wire Services. "Ueberroth Punishes Baseball Players Linked To Drugs," Philadelphia Inquirer (March 1, 1986).
  12. ↑ Jaffe, Chris. "20th anniversary: Rod Scurry dies from drugs," Hardball Times (November 5, 2012).
  13. ↑ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASEBALL; Aikens Arrested". New York Times. March 3, 1994.
  14. ↑ "Ex-major leaguer Aikens released after nearly 14 years". ESPN. June 4, 2008.
  15. ↑ Staff Article. "Sorensen pleads guilty to sixth offense of drinking and driving," Macomb Daily News (February 1, 2005).

External links

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