ST. LOUIS - Walt Jocketty apparently feels that the St. Louis Cardinals should not be held responsible for Josh Hancock’s tragic and untimely death.

Jocketty, the general manager of the reigning World Series champion Cardinals, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the club had little knowledge of Hancock’s off-field activities, including any drinking habits the late pitcher may have had.

Addressing the media for the first time since Hancock died in an auto accident Sunday morning, Jocketty also told the newspaper that Cardinals players are responsible for policing themselves.

“There’s a lot of guys who like to have a cocktail now and then, and maybe some more than others,” Jocketty said in Wednesday’s editions of the newspaper.  “But unless you go out and socialize with the guys, which I don’t, how are you going to know?

“It’s not like we police these guys away from the ballpark. It’s up to them to police themselves.”

Jocketty maintained, however, that he is not blaming the players for the tragedy.

“I’m not putting the blame on them.  There shouldn’t be blame on anybody,” he said.  “Do I think there’s a problem?  I don’t know.  Do I know guys like to drink and party? Yes, mostly from what I understand, on the road when they’re not driving.”

The Post-Dispatch also reported Tuesday that sources close to the crash investigation revealed that a small amount of marijuana in a small tin container was recovered from Hancock’s sport utility vehicle.

The news regarding the recovered drugs came one day after a report that Hancock had been involved in another traffic accident three days prior to the one that took his life.

Hancock reportedly walked away uninjured from a crash Thursday morning but was late for the team’s afternoon game several hours later.  Club officials claimed Hancock had overslept, but unidentified sources informed the Post-Dispatch that Hancock was hung over.

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After pitching Saturday afternoon against the Chicago Cubs, Hancock spent the night at Mike Shannon’s Steaks and Seafood Restaurant, the report said.  An unidentified couple at the restaurant informed the Post-Dispatch that Hancock appeared to be drinking to a point of impairment.

A few hours after being at the restaurant, Hancock was in the deadly crash.  Police said he was traveling westbound on Highway 40 in a rented 2007 Ford Explorer when he struck the back end of a parked tow truck in the far left lane at approximately 12:35 a.m. local time.

According to police, Hancock did not attempt to avoid the collision until the last second and appeared to be killed immediately.  The police also stated that speed was not a factor and no alcohol was found in the vehicle.

Hancock’s family will hold a private burial service Wednesday and a public memorial service the following day in Tupelo, Mississippi.  Autopsy results could be released as early as Friday.

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