Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 4, 1993 TAG: 9302040184
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CINCINNATI LENGTH: Medium
SOME SAY SCHOTT GETTING OFF EASY
Hank Aaron called Marge Schott's suspension Wednesday a deep disappointment. The Rev. Jesse Jackson called it a starting point.Baseball's executive council agreed to a one-year suspension for the Cincinnati Reds' owner. She also will pay a $25,000 fine and can apply for reinstatement after six months.
The length of the suspension disappointed Aaron, baseball's all-time home-run leader who has spoken out about racism. He had hoped for tougher punishment.
"I don't think that baseball deserves to have somebody like Marge involved in it," the Atlanta Braves' senior vice president said. "It's supposed to be America's pastime. I think baseball treated this occasion very lightly.
"What does she have to do to be reinstated? Nothing. Just six months and forget about it."
Jackson, who has threatened Opening Day boycotts unless baseball improves its minority hiring, called the agreement a "responsible step." He cautioned major-league baseball that boycotts could still take place unless other teams make strides in hiring minorities.
"Those who do not put forth such a plan remain vulnerable to the possibility of direct action on Opening Day and beyond," Jackson said in a statement.
Those who have pushed for baseball to take strong measures against Schott were disappointed in the length of suspension.
Sharon Jones, the former Oakland Athletics executive secretary who claimed she overheard Schott use racial slurs on a conference call, called the penalty "too little, too late."
Aaron said baseball owners were afraid of getting sued if they imposed a harsher penalty. He said he thinks baseball will try to forget about the Schott episode, and minorities will be no better off.
"It sends the message that we're still living in a captivity world where blacks are treated no better than they were 20 or 30 years ago," Aaron said. "You've got people who work in the house and people who work in the fields. It says you can treat black players like field workers. After they finish their careers, step to the back of the bus."
Tyrone Yates, a black city councilman who had urged a three-year suspension, hopes the penalty focuses attention on racial problems. He compared it with Jackie Robinson breaking baseball's color barrier with the Dodgers.
"I believe this decision is as significant a signal as Branch Rickey's elevation of Jackie Robinson to the major leagues in 1947," Yates said. "It's a sad day for us [in Cincinnati], but it's a giant leap forward. I think many people believed Mrs. Schott was going to be exonerated."
Schott's strongest support has come from Cincinnati, where media polls showed overwhelming sympathy. Many found the one-year suspension was harsh.
Reds reliever Rob Dibble said there was no reason to suspend Schott, who has supported him throughout his suspensions from the National League for on-field outbursts.
"She's brought in the key people who are going to help us win the World Series this year," Dibble said. "She's a leader in our organization and in this town. It's a sad statement. These people are just abusing this older woman because of something she said or didn't say.
"She's one of the most accessible owners I've ever seen in any sport. She means a lot to the kids. She's there for them."
She won't be in her usual first-base seat when the Reds open the season April 5 at Riverfront Stadium. That's the only thing the team's limited partners were sure of.
"I have no idea what will happen to the Reds now," said Louise Nippert, who owns two shares and is a friend of Schott's.
Schott owns 6 1/2 of the team's 15 shares. The seven minority partners weren't consulted by the executive council before the decision was announced, leaving them unsure of the consequences.