Perhaps it’s sadly ironic that as Major League Baseball finally gets around to dealing with its steroid problem, we were all reminded of the last drug problem the sport had.
Steve Howe’s death in a truck accident last week brought back memories for most baseball fans. Perhaps even more so than Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden, Howe was the poster boy for baseball’s drug problem of the 1980s and ’90s.
Steve Howe was a very good pitcher for the Dodgers and Yankees. But hear the name and there’s a joke that follows it.
“This is your last chance,” Leslie Nielsen said to Anna Nicole Smith in the 1994 movie Naked Gun 33 1/3. “And I’m not talking about one of those Major League Baseball Steve Howe kind of last chances.”
Howe was suspended seven times by Major League Baseball, and became the first player in history to earn a lifetime ban for drugs (an arbitrator later had the suspension thrown out).
Howe was given chance after chance. He became the card to pull out when discussing the Pete Rose Hall of Fame case.
“How can Pete Rose not be in the Hall of Fame,” I’d ask, “If Steve Howe keeps getting chances?”
Howe will remain an important figure in baseball as long as drug use is an issue. So maybe, he’ll be important as long as the game is. Some have said to me that Howe’s death reminded them of “when baseball knew how to get it right.”
But what Howe’s case shows is just how weak Major League Baseball is at punishing players. If Darryl Strawberry or Dwight Gooden were capable of helping teams right now, they probably have jobs. What remains is the idea that you will always get a second chance – if you have talent.
It isn’t known yet if Howe’s death was drug or alcohol related. What is known is that his name will forever be synonymous with drug use in sports. If he’s a symbol of the past, what will be the symbol of the future?
I could throw out some names, but you’ve heard them all before. Steve Howe’s greatest contribution may be to come. Baseball players may not want to hear about health risks associated with steroid use.
They may not care about the message the use sends to youth. They may not care about records or the game’s integrity. But I imagine none of them want the first line of their obituary to mention their drug addiction.
Sadly for Howe, that’s how his began.
Article comments
1 - sal m
"baseball" has taken a lot of blame for the problems of howe,strawberry, gooden, etc but "baseball" invariably has meant the league and the teams.
and certainly these players must take responsibility for their actions.
however, it's the player's union who is supposed to be protecting and looking out for the players. all during the years of the recreational drug use the union was too concerned with making sure their union member's personal lives were not intruded upon and they weren't concerned enough with getting help for their members.
watching how the fehr, orza and company behaved during the steroid testing debacle these guys - and the union members who were obstructions to having the union help their members in more than just financial matters - should get a lot more blame for the recurring and life threatening addictions of their union memebers.
2 - Zach Baker
No argument here. I remember an episode of The Simpsons where there were parent-teacher conferences. The banner said "Let's share the blame." The Union heads were ridiculous in their defense of illigal drug use, calling it a matter of "privacy." My opinion is the Union was not concerned about the players, only the union itself. They knew there was a problem, but if it was revealed, what would that mean to contracts? They also wanted to protect the Big Name-high salary players. You had guys like Tom Gordon coming out and saying how much testing was needed, but the Union didn't act because that's not who they represent.
The congress hearing was glorious for me because it humiliated Selig and Fehr and exposed them for the contemptable jokes they really are.
3 - MCH
Steve Howe reminds me of several other talented people in history who couldn't beat their addictions and self-destructed - regardless of whether his death was drug or alcohol related.
Elvis Presley, Freddie Prinze, Billy Martin, Marilyn Monroe and Hank Williams come to mind; and Mickey Mantle to a lesser degree.
Tons of talent and equally as much weaknesses.
4 - jamie
Steve Howe was a wonderful, talented, big-hearted man. I know,I knew him. What's ironic is all the bloggers out there and people walking the streets who judge and assess the person he was. Yes, He was a phenomenal baseball player with a drug problem. He got chances as did Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden. But NOBODY should judge a book by its cover or what they see and hear through the media. If you have never walked in Steve Howe's shoes you should not be judging him or anyone else for that matter. There is always so much more to a person than what the media decides to publish. And the media should consider that he has a wife and two beautiful children walking and living in this world. Steve Howe may now rest in peace and hopefully be remembered for how well he threw the ball but will definitely be remembered for the wonderful father he was. I know, his children are awesome!!!
5 - Domin8
Steve Howe was a joke, I knew him very well also. His kids, yes are great but he himself was a total joke. Enough said.
6 - jamie
Domin8 or whatever your name is... You're a joke. You didn't know shit... if you knew him I would know you!!!! You're a joke for writing something about a man who can't defend himself. Bet you never told him to his face! COWARD!!
Enough said!!
7 - BBFan
Everyone has a vice, most are never revealed. Howe's was due to the spotlight. I never knew him but one thing is for certain, he came back fighting each time. You're ok in my book!