
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, April 9, 1991                   TAG: 9104090040
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK                                LENGTH: Short

UMPIRES END STRIKE

Major-league umpires agreed to a new contract Monday and ended their two-day walkout, but the deal came too late for them to reach seven of the eight season openers.

Amateur umpires, who took over for the final two days of spring training, worked all but one of Monday's games, the first time regular umpires missed games during the season since 1979. The regulars are scheduled to return today.

Under the four-year agreement, the minimum salary for umpires rises from $41,000 to $60,000 and the maximum goes from $105,000 to $175,000. Umpires get a third week of vacation during the season, a rise in daily expense money from $169 to $185 and increases in medical benefits, insurance coverage and pensions. In addition, the postseason pool rises from $800,000 to $1.2 million.

In exchange, the American and National leagues will be able to select umpires for the All-Star game, playoffs and World Series on merit. The previous agreement contained many restrictions that forced the leagues to rotate umpires for major events.

Monday's only game with regular umpires was in Arlington, Texas, where the Rangers played Milwaukee with President Bush looking on.

by CNB