Jeff Bagwell may not have snared enough votes to make baseball's Hall of Fame in January but the former Houston Astros slugger sure got himself 100-percent involved in a divorce case rocking Houston's high society that's dirtier than a prairie dust storm. The scandalous divorce battle between Bagwell's reported girlfriend Rachel Brown and her estranged husband, hand surgeon Michael Brown, has shocked upper crust Houston — where Bagwell played for 15 seasons — and brought his relationship with the Texas socialite to light. Normally, a case with these rich and infamous characters would only be noticed in certain circles of society but Bagwell's high sports profile has given it interest to the common sports fan. The attractive Rachel, who's said she plans to marry Bagwell, testified earlier in court this year that her husband — who was acquitted on 2010 felony charges related to a dispute at the couple's home — required supervision while visiting their children because, "He goes into fits of rage." She reportedly said he'd thrown vases, mugs wine glasses and shoes. Brown, owner of the Brown Hand Center and a fixture around Houston society, denied his wife's rage claims but admitted to paying women — up to three at a time — "for companionship," but testified that his small children would not be exposed to him "dating" or to other adult activities. Meanwhile, Rachel ( aka The Hand Lady) acknowledged using cocaine and Ecstasy after her children were born, but claims to have stopped using drugs in 2009. She also told the court that Bagwell had recently gone to rehab to be treated for alcohol abuse, but left before he completed the treatment program. Bagwell has always vehemently denied using steroids or any other performance-enhancing drugs. Michael Brown's lawyers have filed a motion saying he's been denied supervised visitation with his kids because Rachel wants Bagwell to have more access to them.
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January 25, 2013
