"Pops" Stargell denies charge
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This is a digitised version of an article from The Cayman Compass's print archive. Occasionally, the digitisation process introduces transcription errors, or other problems.
See the article in its original context from September 1985.
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Stargell, known as “Pops” and well-respected among other players, denied being a source for drugs.
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 because veteran players used them.
The son of Hall of Famer Yogi Berra testified Monday that he and four of his former Pirates teammates, Dave Parker, Lee Lacy, Rod Scurry and John Milner, used cocaine at various times.
San Francisco Giants outfielder Jeff Leonard followed Berra to the witness stand and testified he twice purchased cocaine from Strong in 1982, once in a Pittsburgh hotel and once in an Atlanta hotel.
Leonard said former Giants teammates Al Holland and Chili Davis were both present when he purchased 100 dollars. worth of cocaine from Strong. He said he entered a drug rehabilitationcentre later that year and has not used cocaine or alcohol since.
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.
