Crime History – Major League Baseball embarrassedby cocaine trial

Published September 19, 2009 4:00am ET



On Sept. 20, in 1985, Curtis Strong is convicted for selling cocaine to pro baseball players that resulted in the harshest Major League Baseball penalties since the Black Sox scandal of 1919.

Several Pittsburgh Pirates, including Dale Berra and Dave Parker, and other stars like Vida Blue, Jeff Leonard, Tim Raines and Lonnie Smith — were hauled before a Pittsburgh grand jury. The players were granted immunity for their testimony.

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