Schott’s Statements on Race Fuel Concern : Legal: Deposition reveals Reds’ owner used pejoratives and possesses swastika armband.

Marge Schott, owner of the Cincinnati Reds, said Friday her use of the word “nigger” and her possession of a swastika armband were not meant to offend, but a baseball official said the matter was of concern.

“I want to make it clear to everyone and especially to our young people that prejudice and bigotry are hurtful, hateful, unacceptable and demeaning to all people,” Schott said in a statement Friday.

Schott’s remarks were made in a deposition taken on Dec. 6, 1991, as part of a lawsuit against her by former Red controller Tim Sabo. The suit was dismissed earlier this week in Ohio state court.

Steve Greenberg, baseball’s deputy commissioner, said the situation is “clearly a matter of concern.”

Baseball’s executive council, which assumed the power of the commissioner after Fay Vincent’s resignation on Sept. 7, might discuss the controversy at its next regularly scheduled meeting the week of Dec. 7 at Louisville, Ky.

In the transcript released last week, Schott was asked by lawyer Stephen Imm: “Have you ever used the word ‘nigger?’ ”

“Sure,” she answered. “Everybody’s used the word once in their lifetime. . . . Very seldom do I use the word. . . . That’s mainly a Southern term.”

This exchange then took place:

“Q: Do you realize it’s an offensive term to blacks?

“A: Yes. I think it is an offensive term to blacks. I don’t know; I’ve never really asked them. I would think it would be offensive. Maybe it’s not offensive to them; I don’t know.

“Q: Have you ever referred to Martin Luther King Day as nigger day?”

“A: I don’t believe so; I wouldn’t even know when Martin Luther King Day is.

“Q: Well, I’m not sure if you have to know when it is in order to know whether you have referred to it as nigger day, but it’s in January. Does that help your recollection at all? Have you ever called it nigger day?

“A: I hope not.”

Schott also was asked: “Do you have any prejudice against Jews? What are your feelings about Jews?

“A: No. They are not smarter than us, just sharper. . . . “

Later, referring to former Red marketing director Cal Levy, Schott was asked, “Did you ever talk about ‘money-grubbing Jews’ with Mr. Levy?”

“A: I don’t think so. I might have. Who knows?”

A little later, Schott was asked: “Do you have a swastika arm band that you keep as a memorabilia of anything?

“A: At my home. In a drawer.

“Q: You do. Where did that come from?

“A: It came from one of the men that worked for me in the brick company in St. Louis, and he presented it to me. . . .

“Q: Do you know why you were given this swastika armband that we talked about?

“A: I don’t know why. Because I’m German; because it’s--a lot of people collect memorabilia. I guess the guy thought he was giving me something great.

“Q: Did Cal Levy ever note the presence of that armband in your house? Did you ever talk with him about that?

“A: I don’t really know. I know if we have Christmas parties or something, maybe somebody opened the drawer and saw it, but I don’t really remember showing the swastika armband. I don’t even remember if it’s in the drawer anymore.

“A: Do you recall Mr. Levy being offended by the armband?

“A: No. I don’t. I don’t know why he’d be offended by the armband.

“Q: Well, I mean, you understand what it represents, don’t you?

“A: Hitler. . . . Our family was part of the--what did they call the king, like over in Germany--Kaiser. My mother’s family, but Hitler came in and took over.

“Q: You understand why a Jew like Mr. Levy would be offended by seeing the armband?

“A: I don’t think Cal would be offended by seeing the armband, because it’s just like, are all the people going to be offended--when is Pearl Harbor Day?

“Mr. Bailey: Tomorrow.

“A: If I have a Jap flag out, are we going to be offended tomorrow?”