Ueberroth: 8-Point Plan on Drugs

It has been said that the office of baseball commissioner is merely a steppingstone to greater things for Peter Ueberroth. In his state-of-the-game speech at baseball’s winter meetings here Tuesday, Ueberroth had the distinct sound of a man harboring political aspirations.

Ueberroth got into such topics as U.S. foreign policy and border control.

Cocaine use--both in baseball and society--must be stopped, Ueberroth said, and offered an eight-point plan on combatting the drug. One of his points called for political sanctions against the countries that produce cocaine.

“There are six countries that grow it, and politicians have got to get tough on giving foreign aid to them,” Ueberroth said.

He also called for stricter policing of drug traffic across the U.S. border. “We have to protect our borders,” he said. “You consider the Tinker Toy equipment we give to our border patrol people, yet we have AWACS (an airborne warning and control system) sitting in fields all around here that can help detect and stop (drugs) from crossing our borders.”

Baseball, too, Ueberroth said, must take a tougher stand. He indicated that such an approach has started--with drug-testing on all levels.

“I say baseball has turned the corner, we’re going to get a handle on it and we’re going to have a drug-free sport,” Ueberroth said.

“And, the best news is that the (Major League) Players Assn. is going to come up with a program of its own. All I can say is God bless ‘em. I hope it has strength, I hope it has some teeth. Baseball has got to get this problem behind us.”

Ueberroth also talked of baseball’s financial health. “Twenty-one of the 26 clubs lost money last year,” he said. “What has resulted is a kind of enlightened self-interest on the part of the owners.

“Common sense has taken over. The pot is dry--losses have built up and built up and built up. There is just so much left in the orange to squeeze. . . . Player salaries will continue to go up, yes, but not at such a dramatic and alarming rate.”

Other points made by Ueberroth:

--His survey of baseball fans regarding the use of the designated hitter proved inconclusive.

--Fans will continue to vote for the All-Star teams.

--Baseball must become less commercial. “You can’t look at a magazine cover without seeing six or seven product identifications,” Ueberroth said. “Baseball wants to value itself. If a corporation wants to become involved with baseball, it must include a ‘charity component’ in any commercial sponsorship. That charity component may be amateur baseball or anti-drugs or anything at all.”