Schott May Face Another Suspension

Baseball is considering suspending Marge Schott for a second time unless she gives up daily control of her Cincinnati Reds, a highly placed official said Friday.

The action, stemming from Schott’s public comments and operation of the team, could happen within the next 10 days, the official said, but there will be no attempt to make her sell the Reds, of which she owns 40%.

Acting Commissioner Bud Selig refused comment, but the official said, “It’s a complex situation, but it can’t be ignored. She has rights to her property, but we’re prepared to take serious and significant action.”

Schott, who could not be reached, was suspended for the 1993 season and directed to counseling because of racial and ethnic slurs.

Her recent comments in an ESPN interview that Adolf Hitler did good work in his early years as German chancellor again embarrassed the game and prompted calls for her ouster from the Cincinnati Enquirer and many civic and Jewish organizations.

She compounded that in a Sports Illustrated interview by demeaning other ethnic and gender groups, as well as several of her own players. “We cannot and will not tolerate ethnic and gender stereotyping of that type,” National League President Leonard Coleman said.

In addition, said the official, “no one has been happy with Marge since opening day. Here we are trying to rebuild the game, and she seems to be doing everything she can to embarrass it.”

On opening day, after the death of umpire John McSherry, Schott said she felt cheated that the game was postponed.

She later sent recycled flowers to the umpire’s room, and a week later walked on the field in a bid to apologize for her remarks to another group of umpires as they prepared to start a game and refused to listen.

In the Sports Illustrated article she also acknowledged hiring private investigators to videotape her players getting on and off buses and going in and out of hotels, to make sure they were not accompanied by girlfriends, or “cutesy-poos,” as she calls them.

National League attorney Robert Kheel and Milwaukee-based attorney Bob Dupay are preparing the case against Schott, based primarily on violations of the “best interest of the game” provision, the official said.

Coleman has sent a letter to Schott questioning several aspects of her operation as CEO and asked her to reply by Monday.

The NL constitution gives the league authority to fine or suspend an owner who brings disrepute to the league or game.