Umpires Warned Against Striking

Baseball umpires were warned Friday that they will be fired if they strike next week.

American League president Gene Budig and National League president Len Coleman sent the warning in a memo dated Aug. 25 that many umpires received before they worked Friday night’s games.

Some of the umpires backing union head Richie Phillips have talked about striking over baseball’s refusal to allow 22 umpires to withdraw their resignations, which are effective Thursday.

“There have been several press reports suggesting that the Major League Umpires Assn. and certain major league umpires may engage in a strike on or before Sept. 2,” said the memo, a copy of which was obtained by the Associated Press.

“As you know, the collective bargaining agreement between the leagues and the Umpire’s Assn. contains a very broad no-strike pledge. . . . While we are confident that most, if not all, major league umpires intend to honor this no-strike commitment, we feel it is important that all major league umpires understand our position with respect to conduct in violation of that commitment.

“Any major league umpire who participates in a strike or any other conduct in violation of the no-strike commitment will have his employment terminated.”

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New York Yankee bench coach Don Zimmer missed Friday’s game against the Seattle Mariners after being hospitalized because of a heart ailment that flared up.

Zimmer, 68, was admitted for evaluation of a cardiac abnormality, which the Yankees described as “minor.” The team said Zimmer had been treated for the same problem in the past.

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Seeking another quality starter, the Texas Rangers acquired left-hander Jeff Fassero from the Mariners for a minor league player to be named. Fassero, who lost his last six decisions with Seattle, is 4-14 with a 7.38 earned run average and has given up 34 homers.