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Last week's testimony came in the trial of an alleged cocaine dealer, Curtis Strong, a former clubhouse caterer for the Philadelphia Phillies. He was among seven Pennsylvania men indicted on drug-dealing charges last May by a federal grand jury, but the only one so far to insist on a trial (three others pleaded guilty, and no trial dates have been set for the remaining three). In return for promises of cooperation, prosecutors went out of their way to conceal the identity of the players who allegedly bought cocaine from the seven defendants. But Strong's trial destroyed that protective strategy, and the ballplayers were called to testify after being granted immunity from prosecution. Those who took the stand last week readily admitted having used the drug. "I consider cocaine the devil on this earth," testified Keith Hernandez, 31, the New York Mets first baseman, who leads the National League in game-winning hits (19) and who had been a co-winner of the league's Most Valuable Player award as a St. Louis Cardinal in 1979. Describing coke as "a demon in me," he said he had used "massive" amounts starting in 1980 after he and his wife separated, and had then developed an "insatiable desire for more." He contended that there was a "love affair" between baseball players and cocaine in 1980. But Hernandez said under questioning that his claim to the grand jury that 40% of the players were using the drug in 1980 may have been "grossly wrong" and that use has "declined tremendously" since then.
The Met star admitted that he had played under the influence of coke as a Cardinal and had not been able to break the habit until just before he was traded to New York in mid-June of 1983. When he lost ten pounds and awoke one morning with his nose bleeding, he knew he was in trouble. "I had the shakes and I wound up throwing a gram down the toilet," he testified. But what finally turned him off, Hernandez said, was when he saw St. Louis Outfielder Lonnie Smith, who now plays for the Kansas City Royals, have such a "bad experience" with cocaine that he was unable to play in a 1983 game.
The normally calm Hernandez, who has a five-year, $8.4 million contract with the Mets, was clearly uncomfortable as he was asked for the names of other players with whom he had shared cocaine. He cited two former St. Louis teammates: Pitcher Lary Sorensen, 29, who is now with the Chicago Cubs, and Outfielder Bernie Carbo, 38, who retired at the end of the 1980 season.