What About Freedom of Screech? : The Gossage Case Raises Profound Questions; Hold the Fries

What if a California Angel called Gene Autry’s “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” the dumbest song he had ever heard, and recommended that no one ever buy the record or any other Autry album, ever again?

What if a St. Louis Cardinal came out publicly against the evils of drinking beer, telling people that Gussie Busch’s brewery should be boarded up permanently or condemned?

What if an Atlanta Brave accused Ted Turner of poisoning children’s minds with moronic cable-TV programming, such as cartoon shows or “Gomer Pyle.”

What if a Detroit Tiger denounced the nutritional value of pizza, suggesting that consumers avoid Tom Monaghan’s pepperoni-and-mushroom creations and dine at health-food restaurants instead?

How much can a ballplayer say about an owner?

How much can any employee say about a boss?

Rich (Goose) Gossage, pitcher for the San Diego Padres, opened his mouth once too often to suit the people who pay him. Among his many insults was this one about Joan Kroc, owner of the Padres and queen of the McDonald’s fast-food empire:

“She’s poisoning the world with her hamburgers.”

This and other remarks finally got the Goose cooked. Last Friday, he was suspended from the team for the rest of the season.

Without pay.

Can the Padres do this? Can any company?

I have to admit, I am confused.

Not long ago, I knocked Professional Golf Assn. Commissioner Deane Beman for fining and suspending golfer Mac O’Grady, just because O’Grady called him names and criticized his leadership.

A guy in my office approached me later and asked: “If you insulted (our publisher) publicly, could he fire you?”

Hmmm . I am not sure.

Maybe I will have to test this situation--accuse my newspaper of getting ink all over people’s fingers, or something horrible like that.

I have always defended Freedom of Speech. But lately it has occurred to me that what we have is the freedom to say practically anything without getting arrested . Losing your job over a public comment is something else. That is either a union matter or a personal matter between laborer and employer.

San Diego teammates took a vote over whether to boycott the next day’s game after Gossage’s exile. They decided to keep playing, but asked the club to reconsider.

First baseman Steve Garvey said: “Obviously, the biggest concern is the abuse of the First Amendment right of free speech. That’s the prime focus of this incident . . . his rights have been taken away.”

Padre President Ballard Smith referred to an “insubordination” clause in the standard player contract, but the clause is not specific enough about what “misconduct” entails.

Does Gossage’s contract prohibit him from commenting on quarter-pounders or Shanghai McNuggets?

Or from rapping the team for removing beer from the clubhouse? Or from making mother-in-law jokes about Kroc and Smith, who happen to be related in that fashion? “He just listens to what Mom says,” Gossage cracked at one point.

As I think about all this, I am watching a ballgame at Anaheim Stadium in which the home team’s pitcher is John Candelaria, who came to the Angels last season from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

He came to them after calling his Pittsburgh boss, Harding (Pete) Peterson, a “bozo,” and making a similarly pleasant comment after Peterson’s son, Rick, was brought into the Pirate front office.

John Candy kept this stand-up comedy coming until the Pirates got fed up enough to trade him.

But what if Peterson had suspended Candelaria instead? Kicked him off the team without pay?

If you suspend a player while still paying him, you get no value for your money. That is useless. But if you can get rid of him free of charge, the player can no longer goad the general manager or owner into unloading him.

This Gossage matter could establish a precedent of Curt Flood proportion. Flood said a veteran should not be traded if he does not want to be traded. Gossage might fight an owner-imposed gag rule.

I asked Bill Lajoie, Detroit’s general manager, what team owner Monaghan would do if one of his players knocked pizza the way Gossage knocked burgers. Monaghan is owner and founder of the Domino’s takeout chain.

“I imagine he wouldn’t be too crazy about it,” Lajoie said.

Would he place an order for a player to go?

“I honestly don’t know,” Lajoie said. “It’s a question that hasn’t really come up before.”

From now on, it will.

Just wait until a Cincinnati Red says something about the cars Marge Schott sells. Or her stupid dog.