1 yr since Josh Hancock's death; changed many teams' alcohol policies

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04/29/2008 9:15 PM ET


"Cards mark Hancock anniversary: Popular pitcher's death changed alcohol
policy for many clubs"

By Matthew Leach / MLB.com


ST. LOUIS -- The Cardinals marked a solemn anniversary on Tuesday subtly,
quietly and not at all publicly. One year to the day after Josh Hancock
passed away in a car wreck in St. Louis, teammates remembered him fondly.


"I think you always mark it," said manager Tony La Russa. "It's definitely
not a day like every other."

However, the club held no ceremonies to recognize the late pitcher, who was
found to have been driving drunk at the time of his fatal crash. General
manager John Mozeliak noted that reminders of Hancock hang both in the
bullpen at Busch Stadium as well as in the clubhouse tunnel.

In the early morning hours of April 29, 2007, Hancock lost his life in a
crash on Interstate 64 not far from Busch Stadium. The team's scheduled game
against the Cubs was canceled in the wake of the loss.

Some Cardinals still prefer not to discuss the loss of a man who was
extremely popular within the clubhouse. Others, however, reflected on the
changes that his death brought to the club. In the wake of Hancock's death,
the Cardinals banned alcohol in their home clubhouse and on home-bound
charter flights, and many other teams reassessed their alcohol policies as
well.

"I think when you look at how we once operated to where we are today,
there's definitely people -- players, front office -- that approach things
differently," Mozeliak said. "When that tragedy happened, there were things
to be learned from that. And I think the one thing we can take pride in is
that we have."

Ideally, the changes in policy have also led to changes in decision-making.

"I would hope so," said Braden Looper. "I'm sure not everybody is completely
innocent in here, including myself. But I hope they think twice. I've made
mistakes in my life. Hopefully it stops one person from doing it."


Matthew Leach is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the
approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.