‘Hypocrisy Series’ leaves Phils bit cool

By Ray W. Kelly of the Courier-Post

PHILADELPHIA – Hot on the trail of the most sensational drug story since Babe Ruth was caught mainlining chili dogs and snorting soda pop, representatives of the allegedly responsible newspapers covering the Phillies made their way last evening into the team's locker-room.

They did not know what to expect from the players. But an "unnamed source" from an "unnamed public relations department" admitted that two (or was it four?) of his assistants were probing rumors that some Phils to be named later were not happy with headlines and stories that subscribed to the old western theory of, "Lets give 'em a fair trial, then hang 'em."

Of course, it's ridiculous to think that somewhere, sometime, someplace an overweight jock with the blahs and a doubleheader staring him in the face hasn't popped one of the billions of pills that greedy companies and under-regulated doctors pour onto the American scene each year.

What has transpired here in the past few days, however, is the World Series of Hypocrisy, a perfect example of how – in a nation where the president's righthand man supposedly uses cocaine... where banks in Miami are literally bursting with the gold of pot... where one New England doctor accounts for two percent of all quaalude prescriptions and Las Vegas features "pit stops" for uppers – there is always some fool who thinks he can make a name for himself by scandalizing a star.

There is a law against a doctor writing certain prescriptions without examining a patient. There is a law against a pharmacist altering the amount of pills in that prescription. Those are the possible crimes that investigators were supposed to ask the players to help solve, if possible. But, somewhere along the line, people who should know better forgot that no doctors nor pharmacists play for the Phillies.

That's why it was hard to believe that Manager Dallas Green was smiling when a vanguard of writers jammed into his office last night after eyeballing a clubhouse that featured quick-change artist Pete Rose, Silent Steve Carlton, a grim-faced Larry Bowa and the possibility of some conversation with Lonnie Smith, Bake McBride and Ron Reed.

"I don't envy any of you in your work," said Green. "I know news isn't the same as sports (pages), but unfortunately it's still in the paper. The difference is hard to sell out there (in the lockerroom)."

No, he didn't think the trouble had brought the team together, because he didn't think they'd been apart. Okay, maybe the media was "backing off." No sense dwelling on the whole thing.

Outside, McBride studied his can of beer. His face was grim and he refused to look up when a writer approached.

"How you doing, Bake?"

Silence. He was faking anger. He's always doing that bad-dude bit. Only people who know him know better.

"Not talking, eh? Listen. Just tell me. Do you do mustard?"

McBride laughed and said, "Right now, I'm heavy into sleeping. But, if you write it, I'll deny it."

Other players began to appear, some from the sanctuary of the players' lounge, others from the shower.

"All these guys can't be from newspapers," grumbled George Vukovich, a less-than-humble rookie who wasn't taking his cue from a surprising number of congenial teammates.

A group of writers surrounded Mike Schmidt, one of them hoping out loud that he would understand that they hadn't taken aim at his good name.

"I do (understand)," he said. "Some of these other guys might not, however."

Then, draped in a towel and carrying a small bag, the third baseman headed toward the door, saying, "See you tomorrow."

For a moment, it looked like he was going to leave the stadium dressed like a Roman. Was he that upset? No, be remained just inside and talked with his agent, Dave Landfield.

Bob Boone, batting hero of the 5-3 victory, grinned as he began his mass interview by saying, "First off, I don't take Quaaludes to relax."

Bowa, the shortstop that I once allegedly struck in the hand with my face, passed through the room, understandably unable to shake off the anger and frustration this latest unpleasantness had dumped in his lap.

"It's a shame," said Schmidt. "But, it'll blow over. Everything in life is temporary."

Drug probe doctor ‘super guy,’ ex-coach says

By George Clark and Karen Curran of the Courier-Post

Ray Ripplemeyer, former pitching coach of the Philadelphia Phillies, says he knows the physician believed to be the target of a drug investigation involving several Philadelphia ballplayers, but says he isn't aware that any of the players used the doctor as a personal physician after they left the minor leagues.

The investigation has centered around Dr. Patrick Mazza of Reading, Pa., Phillies players Greg Luzinski, Pete Rose, Larry Bowa and Mike Schmidt, and four unidentified members of the club's minor-league franchise, the Reading Phillies.

Since news of the investigation broke Tuesday, Bowa and Schmidt have been cleared. The investigation of the others continues.

Ripplemeyer, interviewed by telephone at his Valmeyer, Ill., home Wednesday, said he made two trips a year to Reading when he was a minor league pitching coach. He said he used to play golf with Mazza.

Ripplemeyer, who was pitching coach for the Philadelphia minor league teams in 1968 and 1969 and the Phillies' pitching coach from 1969 to 1978, described the doctor as "a super guy."

"He liked baseball and he used to drive to Philadelphia with his boy to see the Phillies games," he said.

Rippelmeyer said that the doctor used to have team members, their wives and children to his house for team parties. He also said he was never personally treated by the doctor.

"All of the (Reading) Phillies knew him," he said. "When you're a stranger in town, your best friend is the team doctor. Most of the guys (who left to go to the majors) got their own doctors or used the (major league) team doctor."

He said there is always a lot of locker-room kidding about drug use and alcohol around the league but that he never personally knew anyone who took drugs.

"Our policy (on the Phillies) was as long as a player could come out on the field and do his job and didn't embarrass us off the field, we stayed out of his personal life," he said.

Ripplemeyer said the team doctor and the trainer talked with the players often about the effects of amphetamines and that the team policy was that they were not to be used.

Meanwhile, a source in the Pennsylvania Drug Enforcement Bureau disclosed yesterday that his office still is looking into several prescriptions for amphetamines, which reportedly bore the names of Luzinkski, Rose and Rose's estranged wife, Karolyn.

The matter is expected to be resolved by the end of the month, he said, and if any action is to be taken, the matter will go to a state grand jury.

The source noted, however, that whatever happened involving Mazza and the ballplayers in question may have been legal.

Mazza, the only Reading physician associated with the Double-A farm club, volunteered to open his files to the state, if asked, to prove his innocence

Phils Whip Cubs To Start Part Two

By Harry Hoffman, Press Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA — At a team meeting Thursday afternoon the Philadelphia Phillies and Manager Dallas Green discussed baseball — which was a welcome change — and then went out that night and played well enough to beat the Chicago Cubs 5-3 at Veterans Stadium. 

“We talked about getting back to playing the hustling type of team baseball we worked hard on in spring training," Green said. “We discussed how better to use our offense. It was an open meeting. I did not do all the talking. But we did not talk about the other thing. We got that out of the way Wednesday.” 

The other thing of course is the story about pills and players that jumped into the headlines a few days ago. 

“I thought the press treated us unjustly from the start on this story but at least I'm glad you've backed off it now. Perhaps we can get back to trying to win the pennant. That's tough enough to do without extra problems to think about,” Green said. 

After a subpar start when he gave up four hits and two runs in the first inning and needed a double play to get away that easily, Dick Ruthven worked hard enough to earn his eighth victory in 13 decisions. 

The right hander gave up another run on three hits in the fourth inning and wound up allowing 11 hits in the eight innings he worked. Young Dickie Noles retired the Cubs in order in the ninth to register his fifth save. 

The Phils battled back with a run in the third and three in the fourth on only one hit off loser Mike Krukow, 6-10. The home team ended the scoring with a run in the eighth inning and stayed a game behind Montreal in the National League East. 

In the Chicago first Lenny Randle singled and scored on triple by Bill Buckner who also contributed a double and single to the Cubs’ attack. Mike Vail's single sent Buckner home. After another single by Jerry Martin, Ruthven induced rookie Jesus Figueroa to ground the ball to shortstop Larry Bowa who started an inning-ended double play. 

“Rufus had good stuff from the start but his location was bad early,” Green said. “Once he started to get the ball down he was okay. He's a battler and his last few starts he has helped to make our pitching situation look better.’' 

In the third inning Lonnie Smith, playing left field for the ailing Greg Luzinski, tripled to right field and scored on a single by Pete Rose. 

Consecutive singles by Figueroa, Tim Blackwell, and Mike Tyson produce the Cubs final run in the top of the fourth. In the bottom of the fourth, with a little help from the visitors, the Phils took the lead. 

Garry Maddox walked, which is a long shot possibility in itself. Third baseman Randle bobbled Manny Trillo's hard grounder for an error. Bowa walked to load the bases. 

Catcher Bob Boone, who has been in a season-long slump, started out of it with a two-run single. Boone wound up with three singles for the night. After Ruthven flied out, Smith was hit by a pitch to reload the bases. Then Rose hit a sacrifice fly to score Bowa with what proved to be the decisive run. 

The Phils closed out the scoring in the eighth when Boone tapped an infield single and went to second on pitcher Dick Tidrow's throwing error. He scored on a single by pinch hitter Greg Gross. 

Why no quotes from Boone, Rose or, Ruthven? It was tough to find a Phil outside the shower room, at least one willing to talk. 

It looks as though once again it will be all quiet on the Phillies front for a while, perhaps a long while.