Ueberroth Applauded--but With Reservations

Baseball executives and players generally applauded Commissioner Peter Ueberroth’s decision Friday to crack down on drug users in the sport, saying it was a tough but needed measure, but Ueberroth said he had received some negative reaction.

George Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees, called Ueberroth’s decision “a brilliant and innovative solution.”

“If they (the players) don’t praise the Lord for this second chance, they don’t deserve to be in the sport of baseball and held up as heroes by young Americans,” Steinbrenner said.

“Take a Dave Parker, a man who has turned it around and who is lecturing on drug abuse. He certainly deserves another chance.”

Haywood Sullivan, co-owner of the Boston Red Sox, agreed that penalties were in order and were fairly tempered.

“Without fear, nothing works. I think this is a good decision, a positive step in the right direction,” Sullivan said. “Some people will say the players involved should be banned, but the purpose is to help people.”

Added Bob Stanley, a Boston pitcher: “It’s pretty harsh, but I guess it’s necessary.”

Said New York Mets General Manager Frank Cashen: “The Mets support the commissioner and will join with him in an all-out effort to eliminate drugs from baseball.”

Texas Manager Bobby Valentine said: “It sounds very fair to me. It’s stiff, but it should be stiff. If it (the drug use) was more recent, he could have been even sterner.”

Cincinnati Reds General Manager Bill Bergesch said: “I think the penalties are quite severe, but at least the severity has been tempered somewhat because the commissioner is giving these players a chance to stay in their livelihood.”

However, in a private session late Friday with a selected group of five reporters, Ueberroth said many of the calls to his office expressed dismay with his action.

“We are already getting reaction,” he told UPI columnist Milton Richman in that private session. “Some are saying too tough. Some are screaming. But nobody’s saying it’s too easy.”

Ueberroth would not say whether the reaction was from players, agents or club officials.

Asked whether he believed his program would totally clean up the sport, Ueberroth responded, “When you analyze that a player has committed a crime some time ago, is trying to reform and that he is now investing his time and his money. . . . “ The commissioner shrugged and said, “It might work.”

Ueberroth said he never considered unilateral one-year suspensions with no offer of compromise. He said he continued to be disappointed with the players’ association’s opposition to mandatory drug testing.

John Schuerholz, Kansas City Royals executive vice president and general manager, said: “He (Ueberroth) made his decision and we support it and stand behind it.”

Kansas City outfielder Lonnie Smith is one of seven players who face a one-year suspension unless he agrees to donate 10% of his 1986 base salary to a drug-treatment program, accept drug testing for the remainder of his career and perform 100 hours of community service.

Also in that category is Keith Hernandez, the Mets’ first baseman.

“I am pleased I am able to play,” said Hernandez, reached in St. Petersburg, Fla., at the Mets’ spring training camp. “As for the rest of the provisions I am going to have to talk to my attorney before I can say anything else.”

Many of the players declined to comment immediately on the proposed suspensions.

San Francisco Giants Jeff Leonard and Vida Blue indicated they’ll have little trouble dealing with sanctions handed down by Ueberroth.

Leonard himself had no comment for reporters, but Giant President Al Rosen indicated Leonard was prepared to accept the penalty.

“Jeff’s got broad shoulders,” Rosen said. “He told me, ‘I’m strong. I’ll handle it.’ ”