Chronology of Baseball Drug Cases Since 1980

Baseball commissioner Peter Ueberroth announced last Tuesday a testing program designed to clean up drug use in baseball. Ueberroth said as a first step all baseball personnel--other than major-league players--would be tested.

He is also asking the Major League Players Assn. to join the program and have its players submit to testing.

At least 25 major-league baseball players have either admitted to, been arrested for or been convicted by the courts of drug related offenses, including possession and dependency since 1980. Among these are a number of former baseball players who have publicly confessed to having used drugs during their active playing years. A chronology follows.

Spring, 1980--Kansas City catcher Darrell Porter is treated for a drug and alcohol dependency at The Meadows, a clinic in Wickenberg, Ariz. Porter eventually went on to win the 1982 World Series MVP Award.

Aug. 25, 1980--Texas Rangers pitcher Ferguson Jenkins is arrested in Toronto for possession of marijuana, hashish and cocaine. On Dec. 18, 1980, Jenkins is convicted on those charges, but has record cleared for his community service. Commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspended Jenkins for one season, but an arbitrator subsequently overturned that decision and reinstated Jenkins.

Sept. 3, 1980--Will McEnaney, a relief pitcher and former World Series star with the Cincinnati Reds, admits he was a regular cocaine user during his later years with the Montreal Expos, Pittsburgh Pirates and several minor league teams.

July 3, 1981--Chicago White Sox pitcher Francisco Barrios enters a Chicago area drug rehabilitation center. Barrios had been arrested a week earlier for disorderly conduct and possession of cocaine after a brawl in a Chicago bar.

July 13, 1981--Lou Johnson of the Dodgers admits to having been a cocaine addict during the two years he helped the Dodgers to National League pennants in the mid-1960s. Johnson, who spent most of his 15-year career in the minors, said at one point he sold his World Series ring for $500 to support his drug habit. At the time of his announcement, Johnson worked for the Dodgers in their community services department.

July 21, 1982--Alan Wiggins of the San Diego Padres is arrested in San Diego for cocaine possession. Charges are later dropped after Wiggins completed a rehabilitation program at California’s Orange County Care Unit. Commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspends Wiggins for 30 days on Aug. 28, 1983.

Aug. 8, 1982--San Diego second baseman Juan Bonilla enters California’s Orange County Care Unit for 28-day drug rehabilitation program.

Aug. 31, 1982--Cleveland Indians pitchers Len Barker and Ed Glynn are arrested in Chicago and charged with possession of a controlled substance later believed to be marijuana.

Sept. 30, 1982--Chicago White Sox center fielder Ron LeFlore is arrested in Chicago for possession of drugs and illegal weapons. On Jan. 19, 1983, LeFlore is ordered to stand trial on those charges after a judge rejected his claim that the drugs and weapons belonged to friends.

Oct. 1983--Montreal Expos outfielder Tim Raines enters drug rehabilitation center in California after admitting he was addicted to cocaine. Raines commented two months later that his problem, dating to his rookie year in 1981, was so severe he often “couldn’t even see the ball.”

June 11, 1983--St. Louis outfielder Lonnie Smith voluntarily enters Hyland Center for Drug and Alcohol Abuse outside St. Louis for three-week treatment program, following by a year his second-place finish to Dale Murphy in National League MVP voting.

Early 1983--Dodger outfielder Ken Landreaux is treated at The Meadows clinic in Arizona for “chemical dependency,” reportedly cocaine.

Early 1983--Dodger reliever Steve Howe discloses he received treatment for drug and alcohol problems at The Meadows in Arizona. Howe is later treated twice more at the facility, prompting three separate suspensions from the Dodgers and, finally, by Kuhn for one year. Howe filed a grievance protesting his suspension. Dodger fines against Howe totaled more than $53,000.

Oct. 13, 1983--Kansas City players Willie Wilson and Willie Aikens plead guilty to federal misdemeanor drug charges after a wide-ranging investigation of a conspiracy to buy cocaine. On Oct. 14, 1983, teammate Jerry Martin also pleads guilty to similar charges. Three days later, former Royals pitcher Vida Blue enters guilty plea. Wilson, the American League’s batting champ in 1982, Aikens, a 1980 World Series hero, and Martin eventually serve 81-day prison terms at the Fort Worth Correctional Facility. The three win a hearing on their one-year baseball suspensions and are reinstated May 16, 1984. Blue seeks rehabilitation at a California facility and is reinstated days before the start of the 1985 season.

Feb. 8, 1984--Atlanta Braves pitcher Pasqual Perez is arrested in the Dominican Republic for cocaine possession. Perez is later convicted and serves a three-month sentence in Dominican prison. Kuhn suspends Perez until May 15, 1984, but the decision is reversed by an arbitrator and Perez is reinstated April 28.

March 20, 1984--Denny McLain, the last major-league pitcher to win at least 30 games in a season, is charged with racketeering and narcotics violations in Tampa, Fla. The charges include possession, distribution and conspiracy to import cocaine. McLain, who went 31-6 in 1968, had been suspended twice from baseball for associating with gamblers and carrying a weapon. McLain was sentenced to 23 years in prison.

April 8, 1984--Former major league pitcher Doc Ellis admits he was under the influence of LSD when he threw a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres in 1970. Ellis, who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Yankees, also said he took “pep pills” when playing, including a game against the Cincinnati Reds in which he intentionally tried to hit several players with pitches. Ellis is now coordinator of an anti-drug program in Los Angeles.

April 17, 1984--Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Rod Scurry admits to using cocaine when Pirates are on road against Los Angeles and the next day enters a 30-day drug rehabilitation program.

Feb. 18, 1985--Atlanta Braves slugger Claudell Washington is arrested in Walnut Creek, Calif., and charged with a misdemeanor offense of possession of marijuana. Pending trial, Washington continues to play with the Braves.

Spring, 1985--Angel infielder Daryl Sconiers enters a drug rehabilitation clinic in California for treatment of what is officially termed a “substance problem.” On April 20, 1985, the Angels announce Sconiers has successfully completed program.

April 6, 1985--Oakland A’s pitcher Mike Norris is arrested in Berkeley, Calif., and charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance. Norris, who was arrested in 1984 but had charges of possession of cocaine and marijuana dropped because of insufficient evidence, had been receiving treatment for drug rehabilitation since the start of spring training.

May 4, 1985--Alan Wiggins of the San Diego Padres is suspended from the team for one year after a relapse of his cocaine addiction.