Lonnie Smith Says Phillies Caterer Sold Him Cocaine

Kansas City Royals outfielder Lonnie Smith testified today that he bought cocaine for himself and former St. Louis teammates Joaquin Andujar and Keith Hernandez from a man who briefly was a Philadelphia Phillies caterer.

The three were on the Cardinals team that won the 1982 World Series. Smith, testifying in the federal trial of Curtis Strong on drug-dealing charges, described a cocaine purchase three weeks before the Series.

The outfielder was the first witness, and prosecutors said he will be followed by five other major-leaguers who will testify that the defendant also distributed cocaine to them. At least one of the transactions, the prosecution said, took place in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ locker room.

Smith testified that he first bought the drug from Strong in 1981 after Phillies outfielder Dick Davis introduced them in a hotel room. Smith, then with the Phillies, said teammate Gary Matthews was there for the introduction and the sale.

‘A Little Invincible’

After being traded to the Cardinals, Smith said he met another cocaine dealer through Andujar but continued to buy cocaine from Strong in meetings in Pittsburgh.

The drug, Smith said, “gave me a high feeling, where I felt strong. I felt great. I felt a little invincible.”

He said that on Sept. 29 and 30, 1982, three weeks before the Cardinals appeared in the World Series, he bought cocaine from Strong for Andujar, who was the winning pitcher in the seventh game, and Hernandez, now a first baseman with the New York Mets.

Andujar, still with the Cardinals, has won 20 games the last two seasons. Baseball Commissioner Peter V. Ueberroth’s office declined immediate comment on Smith’s testimony, but spokesman Chuck Adams said, “We are monitoring the proceedings.”

In his opening statement, Assistant U.S. Atty. James Ross told jurors that Hernandez, Enos Cabell of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds outfielder Dave Parker, retired Pirate John Milner and San Francisco outfielder Jeff Leonard will testify that they bought cocaine from Strong, 38, of Philadelphia.

All Granted Immunity

Ross said all will have been granted immunity from prosecution.

Strong worked five games helping cater meals in the Phillies clubhouse before being asked to resign.

Strong is on trial before U.S. District Judge Gustave Diamond on charges that he sold cocaine on 16 occasions between June, 1980, and May, 1984. He is one of seven men indicted on trafficking charges by a federal grand jury in May. Strong is the first of the seven to stand trial. Three others pleaded guilty to various charges.

Defense attorney Adam O. Renfroe Jr., in his opening statement, called the players who will be called to testify “nothing but junkies” who sold cocaine and who are still selling it to other players in the National League.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we will show you that major-league baseball is on trial here,” Renfroe said.