A Broken Man

1992

Steve Howe had a 10-year career in the big leagues cut short by suspensions for drugs, and alcohol. The one-time Rookie of the Year, 1980, and All Star, 1982, was very talented, but drug addiction took control of his life. He was suspended seven times before being permanently banned from baseball in 1992 by Commissioner Faye Vincent. Primarily with the Dodgers, he had a career record of 47 – 41 with 91 saves and an ERA of 3.03. Howe was popular with fellow ballplayers and fans. After years of rehab and attempts to break the addiction, Howe died while driving alone in a tragic car accident at the age of 48.  A toxicology report revealed drugs in his system.

Steve Howe was the first Major League player to be banned for cocaine use. It was the unveiling of evidence of excessive drug usage by professional athletes. More than likely, drug usage had been hidden and swept under the rug until the Howe story, It which caused red flags to go up and set the stage for the start of the era of drug problems that would haunt baseball for the next two decades.