Ghost of Salary Cap Returns to Haunt Game

Revenue sharing? Why not bring back the replacement players?

“I thought we had a handle on it back then,” Cincinnati Red owner Marge Schott said Wednesday of baseball’s alleged financial problems and the industry’s ill-conceived response to the work stoppage of last spring.

Leave it to Schott to suggest that baseball missed an opportunity to challenge--and possibly break--the players’ union by maintaining the replacement concept until achieving a bargaining agreement that included a salary cap.

“I think a salary cap is the most intelligent way to deal with our problems,” she said. “It would put everyone on the same competitive footing. I may be old-fashioned, but I don’t believe in sharing revenue.”

Schott will get a chance to express her beliefs in a joint meeting of major league owners today. A plan by which large-revenue clubs would help subsidize less fortunate clubs is expected to be voted on and approved for the 1996 season, pending the anticipated approval of the players’ union.

The details of that interim plan--a long-term plan will be part of an eventual bargaining agreement--were still being sorted out on Wednesday, the first day of the two-day owners’ meeting.

A proposal by which large-revenue clubs would contribute 22% of their local revenue to a fund to be distributed among needy clubs met opposition and was being reworked Wednesday night, but a high-placed baseball official said a similar version will be presented to the owners today and should be approved.

There have also been conflicts over how much the superstations--WGN and TBS--should contribute, but those also are expected to be resolved.

And even Schott, with her opposition to sharing revenue, said host clubs should be compensated when the superstations carry a local game nationally.

“When they play in our town,” she said of the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves, “we should get some of the revenue because we’re furnishing half of the entertainment.”

Revenue sharing must be approved by 21 of the 28 clubs. Several large-revenue clubs, including the Dodgers, are believed to remain opposed to the implementation of any version not accompanied by a labor agreement including some form of payroll restraint. Dodger owner Peter O’Malley said he would not comment until he saw the proposed plan.

Baseball Notes

American League President Gene Budig said he continues to talk with city officials in Anaheim regarding the status of the Angels’ sale and possible renewal of negotiations with the Walt Disney Co. Budig was careful to say he is not aware that talks have resumed, but added, “We hope it is alive, we continue to believe in the deal, and we will continue to offer assistance and encouragement where needed.” Angel President Richard Brown, asked about Peter Ueberroth’s comments that Ueberroth is aware of ongoing negotiations between Disney and Anaheim, said: “I assume he knows something I don’t know, but I’ve been several steps removed from the negotiations.” . . . Management negotiators will present a bargaining proposal they say is designed to accelerate the pace of labor talks to union negotiators here tonight.