Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Minor Leaguers Fly Home For Free

Associated Press

Another civil bargaining session produced no breakthroughs Wednesday, and striking major leaguers decided to pay the way home for minor leaguers kicked out of spring training for backing the union.

As the negotiators met for the third straight day, the union’s executive board made the pay decision during a telephone conference call. Some teams have told minor leaguers who refuse to play in exhibition games that they have to pay their own way home.

Some minor leaguers questioned union officials about that during a meeting Tuesday night at West Palm Beach, Fla. The third and final meeting with minor leaguers was held Wednesday night at Phoenix.

“They’re in a hot spot and it’s not of their own action or their own doing,” union head Donald Fehr said.

The strike, which completed its 203rd day, wiped out its first games of 1995, with the American and National leagues formally canceling 26 exhibition games. With the strike extending into March, both sides seem more intent on trying to reach an agreement.

“The next two, three days, maybe through the weekend … may be the best opportunity to make a deal,” Toronto’s Paul Molitor said.

Montreal, meanwhile, received permission from the Canadian government to use replacements at Olympic Stadium. In Florida, 20 players left the Expos camp at Lantana and 16 were booted out of the Cincinnati Reds complex at Plant City.

At night, the California Angels opened the exhibition season against Arizona State at nearby Tempe, the first major-league game since the strike began last Aug. 11. About 2,100 tickets were sold in advance of the charity game.

“I don’t care,” said Mark White, 27, of Phoenix. “It’s baseball.”

Owners vowed to stage the replacement games despite the difficulties.

“I suppose they’ll go ahead with it no matter how silly it is,” Fehr said.

The sides did make one small agreement. Today in New York, they’ll announce a joint deal with six trading-card companies.

For 6 1/2 hours during the day, small delegations met at the golf club of the Gainey Ranch. An even smaller group was to continue the discussions at night.

“I don’t know if there’s been any significant change in positions,” acting commissioner Bud Selig said after the day session ended. “But I think a greater degree of understanding could lead to that… . I think there is increased understanding each day.”

Selig said the sides went deeper into the central issues of a luxury tax and revenue sharing, but also said “no numbers were ever discussed.”

“We got to the heart of the matter on a number of subjects,” he said. “I’m not any more pessimistic or optimistic than I was 24 hours ago.”

Even as they were talking, the American and National leagues canceled 12 exhibition games involving the Baltimore Orioles, who refuse to use or play against replacement players.

Fourteen games were canceled that didn’t involve the Orioles, 10 involving split squads. Clubs aren’t sure whether they’ll have enough players to field two squads in one day. Four games were added, all as replacements for games against the Orioles that were canceled on those days.

Baltimore owner Peter Angelos has refused to sign replacements. The American League is threatening to fine him up to $250,000 for each missed game or to even take away his franchise.

In Annapolis, Md., the Maryland Senate approved legislation to bar games at Camden Yards this season unless 75 percent of the players were on major-league rosters last year. The Senate also approved a bill to bar advertising replacement games as major league baseball.”I’m going to sign it enthusiastically,” he said.

The 20 Expos players either refused to play, didn’t show up or walked out.

“I respect their decision, even though I don’t think it’s the right decision,” Expos general manager Kevin Malone said.

Among the players who left the Reds were Kurt Stillwell, Scott Scudder and Rich Sauveur. Owner Marge Schott cheered the 27 players who stayed.

“You’re not wimps out there,” she shouted. “You guys are men.”

In Ottawa, the Canadian Immigration Department reversed course and said it wouldn’t enforce a regulation barring replacement workers from obtain visas to enter Canada.