GWYNN: DRUGS WERE RAMPANT ON PADRES

SAN DIEGO -- Amphetamine use on the Padres was rampant during Tony Gwynn's
final years as a player, the former star right fielder said.

Gwynn told the New York Times that the use of amphetamines is a greater
problem in baseball than steroid use. The comments were printed in today's
editions of the Times as part of story about the extent of drug use in the
game.

"People might think there is a steroid problem in baseball, but it's nowhere
near the other problem; the other, it's a rampant problem," Gwynn told the
newspaper.

Amphetamines, called greenies, would be used by players seeking a quick
energy boost. Gwynn told the Times he estimates 50 percent of position
players use amphetamines.

"Sooner or later, it's going to get out that there's a greenie problem, and
it's a huge one," said Gwynn, now San Diego State's baseball coach.

"Guys feel like they need an edge. It didn't seem like there was a lot of it
earlier in my career, but I know that coming down to the end of my career,
it was rampant on my club. I would just laugh at the guys. I'd be like:
`You're 23 years old. What the heck, look at me, I'm in my late 30s, and I'm
taking two aspirin and saying, let's go.' "

Gwynn's comments inevitably will thrust the Padres into a central role in
the debate on baseball drug policy. They had similarly unwanted attention
last year when former third baseman Ken Caminiti admitted he used steroids
during his 1996 MVP season with the Padres.

Injured Padres left fielder Phil Nevin was Gwynn's teammate from 1999-2001.

He was befuddled when apprised of Gwynn's comments.

"Are amphetamines used in baseball?" Nevin said. "I'm sure certain players
have their ways of getting ready for a game. I don't know the percentage,
but I don't see it as rampant through our clubhouse. I just don't see it, to
be honest."

Gwynn played with Alan Wiggins and Eric Show in the 1980s. Wiggins died in
1991 because of AIDs related to his drug use. Show died in 1994 after
checking into a rehabilitation facility following a drug binge. Gwynn has
said he was unaware of the extent of his teammates' drug problems.

But he provided the Times with a vivid account regarding amphetamines. He
said he once saw them scattered about the visitors' clubhouse when the
Padres arrived for a road series.

"There were a bunch of pills lying all over the floor," Gwynn said. "There
had been another team in there just before us, and evidently, they'd left
these greenies behind. Our guys were like, `Hey, wait, wait, don't throw
those out.' "

Said Nevin: "The particular day he's talking about, I don't have any idea
what year. I've never seen them all over the floor. But Tony played a long
time. I'm sure he's seen a lot of things. I do know for a fact Tony wasn't a
guy who would ever use something like that."