Howe Fails Drug Test in Minors : Ex-Dodger Pitcher, Playing for San Jose, Is Suspended Again

Former Dodger Steve Howe, who last month termed his comeback attempt with the San Jose Bees of the Class A California League “my last chance,” was suspended from the minor leagues Thursday for failing a drug test administered by the office of Baseball Commissioner Peter Ueberroth.

Howe, who pitched Wednesday night at San Jose in defiance of Ueberroth’s demand that he not appear in the game, tested positive for cocaine within the last two weeks, according to a source close to the case. The test was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Tony Daly, the Marina del Rey-based physician selected by Ueberroth to direct baseball’s drug-testing program.

“I am today advising Steve Howe that he is ineligible to play for San Jose or any other club in the National Assn. effective immediately,” John Johnson, president of the National Assn. of Professional Baseball Leagues, the governing body of minor league baseball, said in a statement Thursday.

“I took the action based on certain information which was discussed with Mr. Howe regarding his drug rehabilitation efforts. At this time, it is inappropriate to comment any further.”

Harry Steve, the Bees’ owner, president and general manager, would not comment on the decision, a team official said. But Mark Wilson, assistant general manager, later confirmed in an interview with the Associated Press that Howe “has been placed on the ineligible list by the National Assn. due to a drug test taken May 1. They told us some findings were positive in the test.”

Howe, the 1980 National League Rookie of the Year with the Dodgers, reportedly had passed three tests this season given by the Bees, including one Wednesday afternoon.

According to his attorney, John Lence, Howe also took a test Thursday and “passed with flying colors.”

Said Lence, from his home in Kalispell, Mont.: “There are some discrepancies in the tests, and we feel that there are some discrepancies in the whole situation. We are going to challenge the findings and we are going to investigate with our own sources, just as they will investigate with theirs.

“Suspension is a harsh word. I’m not convinced suspension is the right word. Let’s just say that everyone is on hiatus until the situation can be evaluated.”

Howe had a 2-1 record with a 1.97 earned-run average in 10 appearances this season, four as a starter, and had struck out 26 batters and allowed 27 hits in 32 innings. He gave up six hits, three runs and struck out five in five innings Wednesday night against the Fresno Giants at San Jose.

Originally, Steve, the Bees’ owner, announced that Howe would not play Wednesday, and Howe left the stadium. But by game time, the pitcher had decided to ignore Ueberroth’s order, reportedly because President Al Rosen of the San Francisco Giants and Vice President Pat Gillick of the Toronto Blue Jays were present. Both teams were considering offering Howe a contract, the San Jose Mercury-News reported.

After the Bees had won the game, 6-5, in 11 innings, Howe said he was angry at the implication of drug troubles and told the Mercury-News that he had decided to ignore the commissioner’s demand “because I’ve done nothing wrong. I’ll fight it to the max.”

The Bees reportedly are also angered at Ueberroth’s handling of the matter. Team officials contend that there was too long a gap between the time the test was administered and when Howe was informed of the results, and that the confidentiality of the findings had been violated.

Howe was still in the San Jose area Thursday, Lence said.

“He’s not going anywhere. San Jose is his home, and he plans to stay there. Call it a suspension or call it a hiatus, but he is under contract to the San Jose Bees and he intends to fulfill that contract.”

Howe was released by the Dodgers last July after a six-year career in which he had received treatment for cocaine dependency on three occasions. He also had been suspended by then-Commissioner Bowie Kuhn for the 1984 season, a suspension that was lifted in a settlement when Howe agreed to continue his rehabilitation.

Howe later signed with the Minnesota Twins but was released last September after another cocaine-related absence. Ueberroth has not yet ruled on Howe’s future eligibility for a major league job, but this latest incident would appear to cast doubt on the possibility of Howe’s return.

Times staff writer Gordon Edes contributed to this story.