Transcripts

SPEAKER: Sports news. The St. Paul Saints Minor League Baseball team has signed former Major League star, Darryl Strawberry. At one point, Strawberry was one of baseball's biggest stars. He made the all-star team eight times, but he eventually was kicked out of the major leagues for chemical abuse, domestic abuse, and tax evasion. No Major League team has been willing to sign him this year.

But Saints owner, Mike Veeck, says Strawberry deserves another chance to make a comeback. Beck notes that he himself was essentially banned from organized baseball for 10 years because of his problems with alcohol. Joining us now is Debbie Vigdal, who is a charter member of the team's Saints and Sinners Fan Club. Good morning.

DEBBIE VIGDAL: Good morning.

SPEAKER: Now, the Saints have been promoting themselves as good, wholesome family entertainment. You take your family to the games. Do you think that signing a player with Strawberry's past is a good idea?

DEBBIE VIGDAL: Well, it gave us an opportunity to talk to our son, JD, about drugs and what you can lose. And we've always believed that if you can clean up your act, you're always able to have a second chance.

SPEAKER: Mhm. Do you think athletes should be held up as role models? I mean, eventually, they often are. And it seems like if a child went to watch a guy like Darryl Strawberry play, eventually they would start paying close attention to what he does.

DEBBIE VIGDAL: They would play close attention, and they are role models, whether they like to be or not. But then it also gives you an opportunity to say, this is what you can lose. This is why you shouldn't do it. And we think if Marv Goldklang and Mike Veeck, who are both aware of the drug problems and the abuse problems, think that Mr. Strawberry has cleaned up his act, that's good enough for us. And they always make the Saints of family participation sort of sport. And we're hopeful that they'll keep an eye on things. And we'll be able to point out to our son again what not to do and how hard it is to come back.

SPEAKER: May very well be. There's more tutting about this signing than there would be if one of the Major League clubs signed Darryl Strawberry. Do you think a team like the Saints should be held to a different standard than the traditional Major or Minor League Baseball team?

DEBBIE VIGDAL: Well, I think the Saints, because they are a Minor League team, is maybe a little more wild than it is on the Major League team, and there are less standards than there would be for the major leagues. Certainly, less people see the Minor Leagues play. And that's why they have the opportunity to give these people a second chance. And it's nice to be able to see possible Hall of Famers like Jack Morris and Darrell play on that team and get back into the majors. And hopefully, at that point, they will have a better, stricter standard to live up to.

SPEAKER: Right. That was the other question I was going to ask you. Of course, they also signed Jack Morris, who, of course, has not been run out of baseball. He stopped pitching very well. But do you like to watch the former Major Leaguers? Do you prefer that, or are the young guys trying one last time to make it to the bigs?

DEBBIE VIGDAL: Well, I actually prefer to watch the new players because it's a lot of fun to see them at their beginning levels, and then get to the Majors, and then you norm-- you feel like you know them more personally when they're at the Majors because you saw them in person. You were able to talk to them, get to know them.

SPEAKER: But no problems with the Darryl Strawberry signing--

DEBBIE VIGDAL: Well, no, no. I have a problem with it, but I'm hopeful that he's taking care of it. I don't want to be the person that would say, let's not give anybody a second chance. I think everybody deserves a second chance.

SPEAKER: Thanks so much for talking with us.

DEBBIE VIGDAL: You're welcome.

SPEAKER: Debbie Vigdal, who is a charter member of the Saint Paul Saints and Sinners Fan Club.