European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 12, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 22 the stars and stripes thursday. September 12, 1985 Hernandez grateful for the fans by George York n it first there were rowers and then there was a 30-second standing ovation that made Keith Hernandez unable to focus on the first pitch. But nothing could shake his professionalism even in the mid dle of a Bench Clearing fight when he played peacemaker. They re great fans Hernandez said tuesday night after the mils moved into first place with a 5-4 Victory Over his former teammates. I just did l expect that kind of ovation. It kind of got to when he reported to work in the afternoon Hernan Dez Learned there a Cre two bouquets waiting for him along with iwo do7cn telegrams All of them supportive he said last Friday in Pittsburgh Hernandez had testified under immunity in the trial of an accused drug dealer that he had used cocaine on and off from 1980 through i9k.v he was not fooling himself about the main reason the fans were supportive the pc Nail race overrides every he knew the City was primed for a double Pennant race inc mils and Yankees with both teams playing i hair rivals at Home on baseball thursday. The fans let him know How they Felt when they gave him the 30-Sccond standing ovation Wilh some fervent Boos mixed in a Corn his first time at Bat. He responded Wilh a single that Ltd to the mils first run and he showed his leadership a few minutes later. The cards Danny Cox blew his Cool when George Foster staged his famed stalling act and Cox hit Foster in the backside with the next pitch. When the two teams milled around on the Mound Darryl Strawberry looked rambunctious but Hernandez wrestled him out of the front lines. Darryl got real mad and he s an important part of our Hernandez said. I saw him lose his temper and i Tola him u keep cot last year Hernandez had been critical of Strawberry Young player moped during a slump. The Les sons continue in the neat of a Pennant race. Once order was restored Howard Johnson hit a grand slam Home run and the acts held onto that Lead to move into first place. It s a big win. But there s a Long Way to go said Hernandez whose past and present were colliding tues Day night his troubled years in St. Louis and the bitter feelings in the past with his former manager Whitey Herzog. Who was in inc visiting dugout last night. I Don t think the motivation is any different because of who it Hernandez said. If it was the Tokyo giants or the St. Louis cardinals it s still a Pennant race. This is what septembers Are All there has never quite been a september when two of inc four division races were so tight when Pete Rose was on the Brink of a major Milestone yet baseball was also involved in the trial of an accused drug dealer in Pitts Burgh. Under oath four major leagues have mentioned Many other players As users or suppliers of cocaine or amphetamines. Last Friday afternoon in court in the most scaring Public moment in his career Hernandez admitted under oath that cocaine usage had been the Devil on this then he had flown to los Angeles and was inserted into the game a few innings later. I d been up since 7 30," he recalled before tuesday s game. My eyes were red. I was seeing double. When i saw to i knew i was in the mets players were supportive for obvious Rea sons. After gelling Over the Shock of being traded to the then listless acts on june 15, 1983, Hernandez had become the Best everyday player he mils Ever had Hilling consistently Fielding exquisitely and tutoring the pitchers and infield cars on the nuances of professional defense All this from a Man once labelled selfish by has already testified that the drug was a Demon in me while he was an All Star level first base Man with the cardinals. He had led the league in hitting with .344 in 1979 and nearly won inc title again in 1980, with .321, when he began to use cocaine he testified. In his testimony Hernandez Lold of waking up one morning in november of 1980 with his nose bleeding. "1 had the shakes he said. I wound up throwing a Gram Down the toilet. 1 stayed away from it the rest of the when Hernandez was traded in a seemingly one sided Deal for pitchers Neil Allen and Rick Ownby Herzog would not acknowledge the rumours of drug usage on his team but he criticized Hernandez for other fail Ings. There s no George Brett in this clubhouse Herzog had said pointedly referring to the efforts of his former Star in Kansas City. For two years there has been no Trace of the player who was expelled from St. Louis. He testified that he had taken two and a half years to get off it and that if i could t have got off it i would be gone to rehabilitation i guarantee Only Hernandez knows if he has truly faced inc fears and the cravings that led to the use of the destructive drug. And since his testimony he has heard some voices Call for punishment for players who admitted drug usage in the past. If this had happened 15 years ago it would have been different Hernandez said last night. Now people know that athletes make mistakes athletes Are human in a reference to Jim Bouton s classic Book Ball four Hernandez said if that Book accomplished any thing it broke Down the facade of athletes us Angels get Button Tor Pennant drive Oakland Calif. Up1 the Cali fornia Angels looking for an experienced Arm for their Pennant run tuesday acquired Don Sutton from the Oakland athletics for two players to be named. Sullen 13-8 Wilh a 3.89 Era had become the lop Pitcher on the Oakland staff since joining the team before the 1985 sea son. The 4f year old right hander who has 293 victories and has consistently been one of baseball s Best pitchers was in the Sec Ond year of a two year contract Sulton had made it Clear that when he became a free agent after the season he wished to return to Southern califor Nia where he started his career with the los Angeles dodgers. After losing to the royals tuesday the Angels trailed the first place Kansas City royals by a i i games in the american league West. California has suffered from inconsistent pitching this season. Sutlon had refused to join the a s during the Early stages of Spring train ing but Oakland refused to yield and he finally reported. He lost five of his first eight decisions. He rebounded to Post a 10-3 record since. With starters Mike Witt and Geoff Zahn slowed by injuries the Angels Are counting on Sutton s 20 years of experience to solidify their staff for the stretch. However if the Angels win their Divi Sion Sutton will be ineligible for the playoffs or world series. Only players on a roster before sept. 1 can participate in the Post season. The Angels Trade for Sutton recalls a similar Deal involving the right hander. The Milwaukee Brewers seeking a tested Pitcher near the end of the 1982 season acquired Sutton from the Houston astros. And Sutton was a big Factor in helping the Apet Wio new Magd Dob Sutton. Back in Southern California Brewers reach the world series. The a s obtained Sutton from the Brewers on dec. 7, 1984 for Ray Burns and two other players. Before playing with the astros Sutton spent 15 seasons with the dodgers. Sutton entered the season in 22nd place on the All time Victory list with 280. His 13 triumphs this year place him within Short distance of 300, an achievement virtually assuring induction to the Hall of Fame. In 655 games be fore this season Sutton also had 218 losses a 3.14 Era and 3,208 strikeouts. Berra says Stargell a Adlock got uppers Pittsburgh a new York Yan Kees infielder Dale Berra testified tuesday that former team captains Bill Madlock and Willie Stargell provided him Wilh amphetamines while All three played for the Pittsburgh pirates arid that the uppers were commonly used by pirate players. Berra a prosecution witness in the drug distribution trial of former Philadelphia Phillies caterer Curtis Strong said he saw nothing wrong with using the stimulant be cause Veteran players used them. The son of Hall of Famer and former Yankees manager Yogi Berra on monday testified that he and four of his former pirates teammates Dave Parker Lee Lacy Rod Scurry and John Milnor used co Caine at various times. San Francisco giants outfielder Jeff Leonard followed Berra to the witness stand and testified he twice purchased co Caine from Strong in 1982, once in a Pitts Burgh hotel and once in an Atlanta hotel. Leonard said former giant Pitcher a Holland and Chili Davis were both present when he purchased $100 Worth of cocaine from Strong. He said he Emend a drug rehabilitation Center in Orange county Calif., later that year and has not used co Caine or alcohol since. I went in because of the concern from others. A deterioration of skills Leon Ard said. I was lagging in attention to my family and i was heading Leonard also said be used cocaine with former astros teammates Enos Cabell and . Richard. Cabell also has testified he shared cocaine with Leonard and Richard. Berra who played for Pittsburgh from 1977 to 1984, said he Learned during the pirates 1979 world championship season that Madlock and Stargell were sources of the pills which generally produce feelings of High Energy and alertness. I heard that if i asked them for one that i could get one but 1 did t ask for any and they never gave me one said Berra. The infielder later testified that Stargell and Madlock provided him with or cynics on an unspecified number of occasions after he began playing full Lime for the pirates in 1980. Berra did not name any other pirates players As users of the stimulant whose Purchase by Law requires a prescription. He also said he docs t believe amphetamine use is now As prevalent As it once was. Stargell now the pirates tint base coach said at three Rivers stadium that he was surprised by Bern s accusation. It s not True. That s about All i can say about it he said. Madlock in Atlanta where the dodgers were facing the braves first refused to re Spond to Berra s testimony saving i Don t have anything to say about he added however a Tot of those Guys up there Are trying to get some people mentioned to take the Monkey off their pirates manager Chuck Tanner denied any knowledge of pirates distributing stimulants to other players. I was very surprised Tanner said of Berra s testimony. To my knowledge that never happened. Strong s attorney Adam o. Renfroe or asked Berra if Madlock and Stargell were Ever prosecuted for distributing the pills. Is. At Torney j. Alan Johnson immediately stood and said the investigation continues. Us. District judge Gustave Diamond immediately told the jury to disregard lie statement. Stargell said he was t aware of any govern ment probe. Berra was traded after the 1984 season to new York where he said he is earningm50.000 this season. On monday Berra said Stargell was among those gathered or a meal in a Phila Delphia hotel suite in 1982 where Berra first met Strong. Berra said he bought cocaine irom the defendant in an adjoining bedroom that Day but the Yankees player said Stargell was not in the bedroom when the Sale too place
