Home Run Derby

Back in the mid-1980’s, thanks to a big push by First Lady Nancy Reagan, everyone was on a big “Don’t Do Drugs” kick.

Cocaine was the big scourge back then, both on the street and in MLB clubhouses.  

In 1983, the Kansas City Royals had four players sent to prison for trying to purchase Cocaine.  The 1985 Pittsburgh Drug Trials led MLB Commissioner Peter Uberroth to hand out fines or suspensions to eleven players in 1986.  It’s believed that the Hall of Fame candidacies of Tim Raines, Dave Parker and Keith Hernandez have all suffered because of their association with the trials (and drug use).

In order to help improve their image, MLB unleashed a big ol’ Anti-Drug campaign … complete with players (presumably drug-free) making Public Service Announcements telling you about the dangers of Drugs (specifically cocaine). 

Here’s four 1986 PSA’s featuring a quartet of future Hall of Famers.

Dave Winfield (HoF 2001)

Here’s Dave Winfield all dressed up in a tuxedo back in 1986 (1987?), telling High School kids to say “No” to partaking in Drugs and Alcohol on Prom Night. 

Apparently Winfield thinks having sex after the Prom is okay.

Mike Schmidt (HoF 1995)

Here’s Mike Schmidt back in 1986 emphathetically telling everyone about “The Big Lie” that was (and is) Cocaine.  H/T Bugs and Cranks from like 18 months ago.

By the way, 1(800) 662-HELP still works.  It’s the number for SAMHSA – the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Reggie Jackson (HoF 1993)

If you thought Mike Schmidt was intense … Mr. October has some even harsher words for you.

Why do so many Anti-Drug PSA’s feature a great big face against a dark background?  Sheesh, if I was on drugs, I think that would trip me out.

Gary Carter (HoF 2003)

Out of all the players on the 1980’s Mets, I think Gary Carter was probably the only one with enough any credibility to make an anti-drug statement.  That said, would have been so much more fun if known Coke-heads Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, or Keith Hernandez had done this 5-second spot in 1986. 

Wait – did he say  “It’s not cool anymore” ?  That implies that at some point, taking drugs was cool.  Maybe that was a dig at his teammates, as drug use was apparently rampant in the Mets’ clubhouse. 

Peter Uberroth and Nancy Reagan

At the 1988 World Series, MLB and NBC gave Mrs. Reagan a platform to remind everyone to “Just Say No.”  She even threw out the first pitch …

By the way, if you had told me in 1988 that Nancy Reagan would still be alive in 2009, I would have told you to lay off the Cocaine.

 Loading ...

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 22nd, 2009 at 1:32 pm and is filed under Baseball Business, Baseball Hall of Fame, Drugs, PSA's, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.