The baseball playoffs, threatened by a possible...

The baseball playoffs, threatened by a possible walkout of major league umpires, will begin today in Toronto with regular officials on duty, Richie Phillips, attorney for the union, said.

Jim Evans, Dave Phillips, Ted Hendry, Vic Voltaggio, Darryl Cousins and Dale Ford are assigned to the series between Kansas City and Toronto.

The umpires’ contract calls for coverage of best-of-five playoffs, the format baseball has used since 1969. With the playoffs expanded to best of seven this year, the umps are seeking increased fees for the extra games.

A strike last year forced baseball to use amateur and college umpires in all but one game of the National and American League playoffs. A settlement arbitrated by Commissioner Peter Ueberroth called for increases to $10,000 per man for the 12 umpires assigned to the playoffs and a $160,000 contribution to a pool for distribution to the remaining umps.