SAN DIEGO -- For the second time this year, San Diego Padres pitcher LaMarr Hoyt has been arrested at a Mexican border checkpoint with illegal Valium and Quaalude pills, authorities said.
Hoyt, who won the Cy Young Award three years ago as the American League's best pitcher and makes an estimated $1 million a year, was released Wednesday on $25,000 bail and ordered to reappear in federal court Nov. 10. He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Federal Magistrate Roger Curtis McKee said Hoyt must undergo random drug testing before returning in November for a preliminary arraignment on charges of importing a controlled substance.
The magistrate allowed Hoyt to return to his home in South Carolina pending the hearing.
Ballard Smith, president of the Padres, said the club had yet to determine what action it will take against Hoyt, who was 8-11 in 1986. Hoyt pitched for the Chicago White Sox when he was named the AL's top pitcher.
'We are looking into the circumstances of what happened,' Smith said. 'We have contacted the commissioner's office and his agent, Ron Shapiro. However, we have not talked to LaMarr. We will have further comment at the appropriate time.'
The arrest came one day after Baseball Commissioner Peter Ueberroth said the problem of drug abuse had been 'virtually eliminated' from the sport.
Hoyt, 31, was arrested Tuesday night after entering the United States on foot and tried crossing the pedestrian entry at San Ysidro. According to a statement released by the court, Customs Inspector Gus Rodrigquez noticed the pitcher's hands were shaking during a routine inspection.
'At that point, Rodriguez gave a closer visual inspection of Hoyt and discovered an abnormally large bulge in the crotch of his pants,' the statement said.
Hoyt was taken to another inspection area, where officers found two large plastic packages containing more than 400 pills. Hoyt told Customs officials he had obtained the pills from a cab driver in the Mexican border city of Tijuana.
Hoyt was arrested Feb. 10 at the same border crossing as he returned to San Diego from Tijuana. Authorities said he had 3 grams of marijuana, 79 Valium tablets and 46 Quaaludes in his possession. He was ordered to pay a $620 fine and forfeit the drugs.
Eight days later, Hoyt was arrested and charged with weapons and drug violations in San Diego. After being stopped for running a red light, Hoyt was found in possession of a switchblade and two marijuana cigarettes.
Under a plea agreement, he was fined $375 and placed on three years' probation. On Feb. 27, Hoyt entered a substance abuse rehabilitation clinic in Minnesota.
