Steve Howe Back in Majors

The Texas Rangers, just one day after failing to get Baseball Commissioner Pete Ueberroth’s blessing, went ahead and promoted left-handed pitcher Steve Howe to their major league roster today, calling the move in the best interests of both Howe and the Rangers.

“All of us feel that it’s not for us to speculate on if what we’re doing will anger the commissioner,” Rangers General Manager Tom Grieve said at a news conference. Howe, a former Los Angeles Dodgers star who was suspended four years ago for cocaine use, will be in uniform Friday night for the Rangers’ game in Baltimore. “I’m ready to drop the controversy. I’m ready to play baseball,” said Howe, who was called up from the Rangers’ Oklahoma City farm club.