Reading Eagle - July 10, 1980

Carpenter Says Phils Not Talking

From Our Wire Services

Ruly Carpenter, president of the Philadelphia Phillies, told reporters at a press conference Wednesday at Veterans Stadium that the club, its officials and players would have no further comment on the amphetamine reports linked to eight Philadelphia players and some unnamed members of the Reading Phillies.

Carpenter said the Philadelphia organization was keeping silent on the issue at the request of law enforcement officials and the team’s lawyers. Carpenter also said that he has spoken to Bowie Kuhn, the baseball commissioner, on the matter.

“We’re in a pennant race and the No. 1 priority in our minds is tomorrow (Thursday) night’s game with the Chicago Cubs,” Carpenter said. “No one has been charged with anything, no one has broken any laws. It’s all speculative.

“Before the commissioner were to get into figuring some penalties, there would have to be some specific charge and there would have to be some proof of guilt. The commissioner does have the authority to do things on this type of matter.”

Bowa, Schmidt Cleared

Two of the Philadelphia players who supposedly obtained amphetamines illegally through Dr. Patrick Mazza of Reading, who serves as team doctor for the Reading Phillies, were shortstop Larry Bowa and third baseman Mike Schmidt.   But Berks County District Attorney George Yatron said Bowa and Schmidt are not under investigation.

“At this point we have no evidence that would indicate that anyone has broken the law,” Yatron said. “As far as news reports of Schmidt and Bowa, the information we have on those two individuals shows no connection at all, even innocently.

Dr. Mazza has also denied prescribing amphetamines for Phillies players, and said he has never prescribed drugs without a physical examination.

Bowa, Schmidt, first baseman Pete Rose and outfielder Greg Luzinski were the players named in the original story about the incident that appeared in a copyright story of Monday’s Trenton Times. Since then, the names of pitchers Steve Carlton, Randy Lerch and Larry Christenson have also been linked to the case.

Players Upset

When questioned about the story before Tuesday’s All-Star Game at Los Angeles, Schmidt and Rose denied that the report was true. Rose said he didn’t know any doctors in Pennsylvania, but on Wednesday said that he had made a mistake.

“I do know two doctors in Pennsylvania,” Rose said. “The Pittsburgh Pirates’ team doctor and the Phillies’ team doctor.”

Schmidt and Bowa had a lot more to say at the team’s workout Wednesday.

“That the media would take the liberty the way it did, to tarnish my name with sensationalism, and those of my teammates, basically floors me,” Schmidt said. “I’m on the verge of trying to decide whether I’m going to join the ranks of Steve Carlton (who doesn’t give interviews).”

Bowa said he is “done giving interviews” because of the story, and Luzinski said he had no comment.

“You know as much about it as I do,” Luzinski said.