Exactly one year after the World Series was canceled for the first time since 1904, baseball owners emerged from three days of meetings with no clear ideas on how to get a labor deal before the 1996 season is threatened.

Acting commissioner Bud Selig and negotiating committee chairman John Harrington both expressed optimism Thursday, but couldn’t point to any event that would push players and owners toward a new collective bargaining agreement. They’ve been without one since 1993.

“I can’t imagine us getting to December without a deal,” said Harrington, the chief executive officer of the Boston Red Sox.

Owners are concerned that they will get less television money if there isn’t a deal by the end of the year and that 1996 ticket sales will be hurt. Attendance is down about 20 percent this year.

Low-level delegations from the sides have been meeting throughout the summer, but comprehensive proposals haven’t been exchanged since March 30, the day before an injunction led players to end their 7-1/2-month strike. Harrington said detailed plans only appeared to provoke the sides.

Owners are concerned the sides haven’t even reached an agreement to play the postseason. Teams are offering a $49 million contribution to the players’ benefit plan - the same amount called for in the contract that expired two years ago - in exchange for a pledge that the postseason will be played.

Union lawyers are insisting owners give credit for service time lost during the 7-1/2-month strike.

The sides are set to talk again next week. Lawyers from both sides agreed Thursday to postpone the owners’ trial on unfair labor practices from Monday to Oct. 30. It would be the sixth postponement.