Angel Players Told to Prepare for Strike Vote

Angel players were told by the Major League Players Assn. Wednesday to prepare for a possible July 1 strike authorization vote that could halt the baseball season.

The players, in an informal poll, say they will provide strike approval to Don Fehr, executive director of the players’ union, when the vote is conducted. Once Fehr has obtained the authorization of a majority of major league players, he could call a strike at any time, thereby possibly threatening the All-Star game on July 12 in Pittsburgh.

“I think most of us feel the sooner the better,” Angel left fielder Bo Jackson said. “What we’re working for is equal rights, that’s it.”

Veteran infielder Spike Owen said: “I think unless there’s some miraculous turnaround that propels an agreement, a strike is inevitable. There just seems to be no movement.”

Fehr has distributed a memo to players on all 28 teams informing them to prepare for a work stoppage.

“The latest word is that we will finally receive the owners’ salary-cap proposal sometime shortly after the owners meet (next Tuesday through Thursday),” he wrote. “Of course, given the record of the past year and a half, there is no particular reason to believe that (owners’ negotiator Dick) Ravitch will, in fact, make the proposal then.

“What is beyond dispute is that the owners are in no hurry; perhaps hoping that the players not strike, but play out the season without a contract. This could put the owners in a position to declare an impasse, impose a salary cap (gutting free agency and salary arbitration in the process) and the terms of any other proposals that they have made on players following the World Series, daring you to strike in the spring.

“In short, the owners want to test your resolve once again . This is no surprise; the owners have either locked you out or forced you to strike in each negotiation since 1972.”

Fehr said he will provide comprehensive reports on the status of the negotiations June 16 in Chicago, and also present the results of player bargaining surveys.

“It doesn’t look good,” said pitcher Mark Langston, Angel player representative.