Ueberroth Reportedly Reducing Leonard Penalty

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — San Francisco Giant left fielder Jeff Leonard, one of baseball players conditionally suspended for a year because of drug abuse, apparently will receive a reduced penalty, according to a published report.

High-level baseball sources said Commissioner Peter Ueberroth will move Leonard from the so-called “Group 1,” which receives the heaviest penalties, into “Group 2,” where the penalties are not so severe, the San Jose Mercury News said in a copyright story in today’s editions.

The sources spoke on condition that they not be identified, according to the newspaper.

Leonard, who was among the players who testified or were implicated in last summer’s Pittsburgh drug trials, was placed in Group 1 when the suspensions were announced Friday.

The seven players in that group were given one-year suspensions unless they agreed to give 10% of their 1986 salaries to drug-abuse treatment centers, commit themselves to 100 hours of community service and submit to drug testing for the remainder of their careers. In Leonard’s case, the 10% salary donation would be $90,000.