Johnstone Book Banned at Stadium’s Stands

Jay Johnstone has been banned from Dodger Stadium.

Not Johnstone, the ballplayer. He remains on the disabled list, which he has occupied for all but nine at-bats this season.

Johnstone, the author, however, has been told to set up shop elsewhere. Johnstone’s book, “Temporary Insanity,� which he wrote with Daily News columnist Rick Talley, will no longer be sold at Dodger Stadium novelty stands, by order of Fred Claire, the team’s executive vice president.

Apparently, it’s a matter of taste. The Dodgers say they object to inclusion of the unexpurgated version of former Cub Manager Lee Elia’s tirade against the fans of Chicago on April 29, 1983.

The passage, found on page 99 of the book, contains 44 expletives, stunning even by locker-room standards.

“Well, for the sake of accuracy, I’ll give it to you straight,� Johnstone and co-author Talley wrote in the preceding paragraphs. “No bleeps, ma’am, just the monologue from the unsoaped mouth of Lee Elia, and straight from his heart.�

Claire called Johnstone on Friday morning and informed him the book would no longer be carried at the ballpark.

“When it was called to our attention, it didn’t seem the proper thing,� Claire said.

“It’s certainly meant as no discredit to Jay or anyone else involved. But we don’t think it’s something we should be selling in Dodger Stadium. In our judgment, we don’t think it really fits our style in terms of the promotion of baseball.�

Talley, who said the book contains very little other profanity except for some language attributed to Manager Tom Lasorda, said he and Johnstone did not consider the book to be offensive.

“It’s not a dirty book,� Talley said. “(The Elia speech) shouldn’t count. It’s almost clinical.�

Said Johnstone: “I’m not worried. I’m only 950,000 (books) behind Iacocca.�