IT'S UNFORTUNATE WE HAD TO LEARN OF PORTER'S RELAPSE

The law is the law, but in the case of former Cardinals catcher and World
Series hero Darrell Porter, I almost wish the Jackson County medical
examiner hadn't released the toxicology findings involving Porter's death a
week ago Monday in Kansas City.

"I agree with you 100 percent," said a glum Whitey Herzog, Porter's former
manager in Kansas City and St. Louis. More than a manager, Herzog was a
good friend of Porter's. He would be a guest on Porter's Sunday night radio
show, a Christian-sponsored affair, and Herzog estimates the two of them
together watched 100 or so amateur baseball games in the Kansas City area
involving Herzog's grandson, John Urich, a pro prospect.

"I would sit with Darrell and my wife, Mary Lou, would sit with Darrell's
wife, Deanne," said Herzog. "I wish they hadn't let (the toxicology results
out), I really do."

We want to remember Porter as the sturdy catcher who admitted he made a
mistake in abusing drugs and alcohol and who was man enough to get
treatment. Not the man who had a relapse, recreational or not; or the man
who may have been leading a double life. That part we may never know.

Longtime Cardinals trainer Gene Gieselmann said, "If you would have asked
me -- and I'm a gaming man -- if Darrell Porter would ever go back on
drugs, I would have said, 'No.'"

Gieselmann said Porter had been helpful to him with the Cardinals in
recognizing if somebody had a problem with substance abuse. Lonnie Smith
came to mind.

"Lonnie made such a great recovery because he followed Darrell Porter,"
said Gieselmann of the Cardinals outfielder, who was treated at the Hyland
Center here.

But, Gieselmann said, if Porter's death "doesn't send out a warning to
anybody who's on cocaine -- what the drug can do to you and your wife and
family -- nothing will."

Gieslmann said Porter had had this advice for anybody who thought about
cocaine: "Don't ever try it. Because if you try it, you'll like it."

Herzog, still reeling at the latest revelation, said, "I'm shocked as hell.
I feel very sad and very disappointed.

"We went to the funeral and burial and they had told us that he had had a
heart attack and there were no drugs or alcohol and that made us feel good.
Now, hearing this news ... I wish they hadn't said anything. I thought it
was over. Why did it have to go public?

"I guess there were some problems we don't know about and, maybe being weak
of mind, he got back on it.

"Knowing what he was going through and then after he got off it, I can
swear to you that Darrell Porter did not have any drugs or alcohol when he
was here (1981-85). I'm just very disappointed."

Herzog already had had to deal with the reality that his daughter-in-law
recently had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

"It's been a bad week," Herzog said.

The Cardinals family has lost four members since mid-June -- Jack Buck,
Darryl Kile, Porter and Enos Slaughter, who died Monday in North Carolina
at age 86 after a protracted illness.

"Jack Buck's death was kind of a blessing because he had been suffering,"
said Herzog, "and Enos' was, too, because he had been sick.

"Kile's death shocked everybody and the thing with Porter ..."

Herzog had been one of a contingent of former Cardinals to drive 225 miles
for Porter's services last week in Raytown, Mo. Among the others were Hall
of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith, Gieselmann, outfielder Andy Van Slyke and
pitchers Ken Dayley and Bob Forsch.

Forsch, upon hearing the latest development late Monday night, said, "I'm
shocked. Absolutely shocked.

"I truly do believe that when he was here, he wasn't using. But, regardless
of what happened afterward, I've got all the respect in the world for him
and what he did for us when he was here.

"It looks like he had a demon to fight with and probably the demon won out."