Strike Vote Not Expected Until July 15

The Major League Players Assn. is not expected to vote on the setting of possible strike dates and a possible boycott of the July 16 All-Star game in Minneapolis until a day before the game, a union source requesting anonymity said Monday.

The union’s executive board, which is comprised basically of a player from every team, is expected to meet in a city other than Minneapolis to vote on the issues.

It is now anticipated that the union will agree to play the All-Star game as scheduled because of the owners apparent willingness to hold the game’s revenue in an escrow fund until an accord is reached on a new collective bargaining agreement.

The negotiations toward a new agreement have remained stalled, leaving the union with several strike options.

It is believed, however, that the union now favors a strike beginning after their second August pay day (the 15th) rather than immediately after the All-Star game.