Nixon Urges Umpire Pay Hike

NEW YORK — Former President Richard M. Nixon, acting as an arbitrator, decided today that major league umpires should receive a 40% increase in pay for working additional baseball games in the two divisional championship series.

Nixon, chosen by baseball Commissioner Peter Ueberroth to decide the dispute between baseball and the umpires, said in a statement, “The arbitrator’s decision is that because the championship series have been expanded by a factor of 40%, the working umpires are entitled to receive a 40% increase in compensation, which amounts to an increase of $4,000 per umpire. . . .” The American and National league series were expanded from best-of-5 to best-of-7 this year.