Players OK $280-Million Settlement for Collusion

After five years and two months of battle, the collusion wars ended today.

The executive committee of the Major League Players Assn. voted unanimously to approve a $280-million settlement with the club owners, compensating free agents who were ignored when they sought to move to other clubs.

Approval by the union today came at its annual meeting.

The 26 major league clubs, which were found guilty of collusion for three seasons, voted for the settlement Wednesday.

Fifteen players, including Gary Gaetti and Brett Butler, will become “new-look” free agents in three or four days as part of the deal.

The owners will pay $280 million as of Jan. 2--approximately $10.77 million per team--and interest will be added if the payment is made after Jan. 2. It will be the largest payment in sports history from management to players. The union must then determine procedures for dividing up the money to individuals.

The agreement ends the three collusion grievances filed by the union after the 1985, 1986 and 1987 seasons. Arbitrators had awarded the union approximately $113 million in damages for 1986-88 but had yet to consider damages for 1989 and 1990.

In addition to Gaetti and Butler, other “new-look” free agents include Jack Clark, Chili Davis, Jack Morris, Mike Witt, Dave Henderson, Dave Smith and Mike LaCoss.

The lone dissenting ballot from the owners on the settlement was cast by Houston Astros General Manager Bill Wood, who was voting for absent owner John McMullen.