Mitchell: Baseball needs to cooperate

Mark McGwire refused to tell Congress whether he had used steroids. Rafael Palmeiro insisted he never had.

That day in Washington haunts both men, two years later, and the leader of baseball’s steroid investigation warned Thursday there could be another day like it. In remarks delivered to club owners and then released publicly, former Sen. George Mitchell urged owners and players to cooperate with his probe or face the possibility of a new round of Congressional subpoenas.

“I believe that a report that is not credible and thorough will significantly increase the possibility of action by others, especially if it’s the result of a lack of cooperation by the clubs, or by anyone who is or has been involved with baseball,” Mitchell said.

McGwire and Palmeiro joined Jose Canseco, Curt Schilling and Sammy Sosa in testifying before the House Government Relations Committee. The new chairman of that committee, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Los Angeles), said he would not rule out another hearing.

“The use of steroids in professional sports continues to be an issue the committee is interested in,” Waxman said, “and we are looking forward to learning more about the progress Sen. Mitchell has made in his investigation.”

Under ridicule from some members of Congress and pressure from President Bush, baseball increased the frequency of drug testing and the penalties for positive tests.

Ten months ago, Commissioner Bud Selig directed Mitchell to investigate the history of steroid use. The tougher regimen of drug tests and penalties has not diminished the need for the probe, Mitchell said, citing the results of the recent Hall of Fame election.

McGwire was overwhelmingly rejected by voters, many of whom cited his refusal to discuss steroids with Congress. Palmeiro tested positive for steroids in 2005, several months after he testified he never had used them, and no team signed him last year.

Sosa sat out last year but is close to a deal with the Texas Rangers, so questions surrounding his alleged steroid use figure to resurface when he reports to spring training next month. And, with Barry Bonds 22 home runs from setting baseball’s all-time record, a San Francisco grand jury is investigating whether he committed perjury by testifying he never knowingly used steroids.

“Whether you think it fair or not, whether you think it justified or not, Major League Baseball has a cloud over its head, and that cloud will just not go away,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell’s investigators spoke with club officials and former players last year and plan to talk to active players this year. Mitchell cannot force anyone to speak with his investigators. Union spokesman Greg Bouris declined to comment.

Agent Barry Axelrod said he understands the union and management have agreed on guidelines for active players willing to cooperate, but such guidelines have not been distributed. Axelrod said he represents two former players who were asked to speak with Mitchell’s investigators last year; one accepted and one declined.

By publicly releasing the contents of a speech delivered privately to owners, one baseball official said Mitchell and Selig wanted to assure the public the investigation remains a priority after 10 months and no report.

bill.shaikin@latimes.com