DRUG BUYING FOR PLAYERS ALLEGED IN ABUSE REPORT

Ex-Red Sox Workers Say Cocaine, Pot Purchased

WINTER HAVEN -- Men who as youths worked around the Boston Red Sox training
camp in Winter Haven told investigators that they bought drugs for players,
according to a state probe into alleged child molestation by the team's
clubhouse manager.

One man, who said as a youth he was sexually abused by now-retired team
clubhouse manager Donald Fitzpatrick, told investigators that his primary
job was to obtain drugs for the players, according to the report.

The allegations are contained in a Florida Department of Law Enforcement
investigative report into Fitzpatrick's alleged sexual abuse of youths who
worked in such positions as bat boys. As the victims were questioned by
officers about sexual abuse, the topic of drugs came up, the report said.

The youths, now adults, were molested during the 1970s and 1980s,
authorities said. It wasn't clear from the report exactly when they
allegedly bought drugs for the players.

The names of the men who made the complaints were blacked out in the
lengthy report because they were alleged victims of sexual assault.
Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty Thursday to four counts of attempted sexual
battery of children younger than 12.

Most of the report dealt with Fitzpatrick's alleged abuse of youths. But in
two instances, victims told agents of drug use by the players.

"[One alleged victim] advised [Special FDLE Agent Alfred] Danna that when
he was 13 years of age, working with the Red Sox, his primary job was to
buy drugs for the players, while they were in spring training," the report
stated. "[He] would buy pot for pitcher Dennis Eckersley. He advised that
Eckersley would give him $250 and tell him to buy an ounce, then keep
what's left over."

In another part of the report, a man is quoted as saying that he worked
with the team in Winter Haven and in Boston. The man told agents "some of
the players would have him purchase cocaine for them. [He] named Red Sox
pitchers 'Oil Can' Boyd and Sammy Steward as two of the players who asked
him to purchase cocaine."

"[The victim] advised that he usually went to Chelsea, Mass., to purchase
the cocaine in the projects. [The alleged victim] also purchased cocaine
for the same players and others during spring training in Winter Haven."

In another part of the report, he "advised that the ballplayers actually
introduced him to cocaine and he started to use it."

There were no allegations that they bought drugs for Fitzpatrick, 72, who
was given a 10-year suspended sentence and 15 years' probation in a plea
agreement with prosecutors in Polk County.

A Red Sox spokesman wasn't familiar with the FDLE report and referred
questions to an attorney representing the team. He couldn't be reached.