Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 15, 1994 TAG: 9409150084
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
When the game returns - and no one is really sure when - it likely will be different than it was on Aug.11, when the last games were played.
``This is all uncharted waters,'' said Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser.
Barring a deal - and few expect one until March at the earliest - players and owners will try to wipe each other out.
Owners will impose a salary cap, players will refuse to sign contracts and agent Dick Moss - Donald Fehr's predecessor as the union's general counsel - will try to organize the first new major league since the Federal League took the field in 1914-15.
``The goal is to field teams in April, so you would have to be pretty far along by January,'' Moss said Tuesday night as baseball awaited the owners' final decision on the 1994 season.
Moss, an agent for many players, tried to organize a new league in 1989 but dropped his plans when the 1990 lockout was settled and the economy fell into a recession. Donald Trump and Meshulam Riklis also dropped out as potential investors.
In recent weeks, Moss has revived the concept. With Wednesday's announcement, he says intensive organizing will begin for an eight- to 12-team circuit.
``I've been bombarded with telephone calls from club personnel, both field and front office,'' he said. ``People who say, `Please keep my name in mind.' It's a fun project. I thought it would always be interesting to take this game and make it run right.''
Boston Red Sox chief executive officer John Harrington says owners may open camps in the spring and try to start 1995 with replacement players.
``If we have to, we will because we have to start the process of conducting next season,'' he said.
The current major-leaguers say they won't show up.
``History shows the players have stayed together better than almost any other union,'' Hershiser said. ``I don't think people would cross the line.''
More than 1,110 players are members of the Major League Baseball Players Association, including the top minor-leaguers.
``Forty-man roster players, I doubt, will be in camp in Florida and Arizona,'' said Eugene Orza, the union's associate general counsel.
Management negotiator Richard Ravitch repeatedly has said he didn't think the sides would take the fight through to next year.
``The acts of self-immolation reach the point of Kafkaesque proportions,'' he said. ``Baseball will be in one hell of a mess ... if we get to Nov.1 without an agreement.''
With players boycotting the AL and NL, teams probably will have a difficult time selling tickets. The teams that are for sale - San Diego, Pittsburgh and Oakland for starters - will be on hold. All teams will eliminate a large percentage of their administrative staff. Some minor-league teams will be eliminated, too, although the commissioner's office says teams legally are committed to continue their yearly subsidy to the minors of about $100 million.
Agents say they will prevent their minor-league clients from breaking ranks with the striking players. In order to get his league started, Moss will sign the current major-leaguers - divided into three categories:
Free agents.
Players signed to contracts for 1995.
Players with less than six years of major-league service who, under the current system, are subject to having clubs renew their contracts.
Litigation probably will determine if teams in his league will be able to sign players in the latter two groups. Litigation probably will determine what stadiums can be used - most AL and NL teams play in ballparks that are municipally owned.
In order to succeed, he needs the support of television. CBS and Fox are the networks not tied to baseball. David Hill, the president of Fox Sports, said he would pass on a new league.
``Let me put that concept to rest,'' he said Tuesday. ``No, we're not [interested]. At all.''
CBS Sports left open the possibility.
``We don't deal in hypotheticals,'' said Rick Gentile, a senior vice presiden.
Moss said his league would have a completely different structure from the AL and NL.
``The concept we're pursuing is one where players would be complete partners, in terms of equity, in terms of profits, in terms of decision-making. Players are owners.''
In effect, players would get the same 50-50 split major league owners currently are offering. But there would be no salary cap and players would have the decision-making role they've been seeking for decades.
``Can it really work?'' Atlanta Braves president Stan Kasten asked out loud this week. ``We shall see.''
by CNB