                                ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Thursday, January 18, 1996             TAG: 9601180072
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: B-1  EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES
SOURCE: Associated Press

INTERLEAGUE PLAY ON DECK FOR '97 SEASON

If everything goes according to plan, the New York Mets will play the Yankees during the 1997 season, the Cubs will face the White Sox, the Dodgers will meet the Angels and the Giants will play the Athletics.

Interleague play was unanimously approved by baseball's ruling executive council during a meeting that ended late Tuesday night. The plan needs the approval of 21 of the 28 teams, and owners may vote as soon as today.

``Interleague play, which has long been a dream of mine, is one step closer to fruition,'' acting commissioner Bud Selig said. ``The overwhelming percentage of fans have wanted interleague play.''

There doesn't appear to be much opposition among owners. The plan, which calls for 15-16 interleague games for each team, also must be approved by the Major League Baseball Players Association.

``This is an idea that obviously merits series consideration and will give it that,'' union head Donald Fehr said by telephone from Washington. ``We have to take a hard look at anything that will be beneficial to the game.''

The National and American leagues haven't played each other during the regular season since the AL first challenged its senior rival in 1900. Traditionalists argue that interleague play would detract from the World Series.

``That's one of the great arguments,'' Selig said. ``I've heard that for years, I feel that argument's absurd.''

In 1997, American League East teams would play National League East teams, AL Central teams would play NL Central teams and AL West teams would play NL West teams. Teams in the East and Central would play a three-game series against each rival in the other division, while teams in the West would play a four-game series.

If interleague play begins, some owners want to resolve the league's split stance on the designated hitter. NL opposition to it is staunch, while the AL is split.

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by CNB