Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 9, 1993 TAG: 9302090048
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
SCHOTT BANNED FROM NEARLY ALL REDS TEAM BUSINESS
Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Schott will be prohibited from all business involving players and most business involving the team, according to the six-page agreement she signed with baseball's ruling executive council.Schott, however, will be able to participate in decisions involving "non-player commitments in excess of $500,000," according to the agreement, a copy of which was obtained on Monday by The Associated Press.
The agreement, dated Feb. 4, is mostly the same as the one signed by New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner in July 1990, when he was banned indefinitely. The most notable difference is that Schott will not have to give up her position as the Reds' general partner and will not need approval from other baseball owners to reassume control after the suspension.
"It is not the intent of this agreement to jeopardize Mrs. Schott's position as general partner under the Reds' current partnership agreement," the agreement states. "Accordingly, the executive council agrees that the suspension and compliance with this agreement shall not be deemed a transfer of control interest in the club under the Major League Agreement."
Steinbrenner agreed to resign and, in order to regain control, must be approved by other team owners after he is eligible for reinstatement on March 1.
Schott agreed last Wednesday to accept a one-year suspension beginning on March 1 because of slurs against blacks, Jews and Japanese. The suspension will end on Nov. 1 if she complies with the executive council's decision, which says she must attend multicultural training programs.
"Until May 1, 1993, Mrs. Schott's presence in Riverfront Stadium during a baseball game shall be limited to the executive suite on the mezzanine level," the agreement states. "After such period she may be present in the public areas of the stadium only and may not enter the clubhouse, offices, field level owners box [or its general vicinity], or press box at Riverfront Stadium or the Reds' spring training facility, or any other area not generally open to the public at either location, other than the same executive suite used prior to May 1, without the prior approval of the commissioner or executive council, and she may not enter the clubhouse, offices or press box at any other major-league club."
The agreement also contains the same prohibition against contract with baseball officials that was placed on Steinbrenner.
"Mrs. Schott may not associate or communicate with any major-league club [including the Cincinnati Reds] or its personnel or any person having business or financial dealings with the Cincinnati Reds, in connection with any matter involving the Cincinnati Reds or baseball," the agreement says. However, it contains new language saying: "This does not bar Mrs. Schott from engaging in normal social relationships."
In addition, the paragraphs giving her permission to become involved in broadcasting and lease arrangements insert the word "club," which appears to prohibit her from involvement in national contracts. Steinbrenner's agreement did not have that restriction.
A lawyer familiar with the agreement, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the provision allowing her involvement in non-player expenditures above $500,000 came about after Schott's side asked what would happen if the scoreboard were damaged and major capital spending was needed. Baseball agreed, the lawyer said, because the council did not think there would be many instances in which this clause would be used.
Schott and executive council chairman Bud Selig didn't actually sign the same document. One copy is signed by Schott and an identical copy is signed by Selig.