AROUND THE MAJORS : Anti-Phillips Umpires Get Unsigned Letter

Umpires trying to oust union leader Richie Phillips have received an anonymous letter accusing each of them of being cowards.

“How could you jump out of the foxhole in the midst of battle and desert your friends for your own selfishness?” read the letter, which was obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press. “How could you pledge your allegience [sic]to the ‘intelligence’ of Joe Brinkman and John Hirschbeck?”

Also Wednesday, National League umpire Steve Rippley decided not to retire, Phillips said.

Rippley, who hasn’t worked since his colleagues lost their jobs, called the National League office last Thursday with the intention of retiring but was told to take several days off to think it over.

“Rippley, in all likelihood, will resume active umpiring on Friday in Cincinnati,” Phillips said.

The handwritten letter, postmarked in Santa Ana on Aug. 31, was received by about 25 umpires who oppose the union leadership, one member of the anti-Phillips faction said, speaking on the condition he not be identified.

Phillips engineered the failed strategy of mass resignations, which cost 22 umpires their jobs Sept. 2. Phillips’ supporters in the union say the resignation strategy would have been successful had they all stuck with the plan.

“Remember, you abandoned the ship! You sunk the ship!” read the letter, which contained misspellings and had several words underlined for emphasis. “Now you have to look at yourself in the mirror every day forever and see the reflection of a cowardly, selfish scab! You can change. You can return your allegience [sic] to where it belongs!”

To form a new union or decertify the current one, 30% of umpires must file a petition with the National Labor Relations Board, which would then hold an election.

“It’s a pretty gutless person that would write something and send out letters and not put their signature to it,” Hirschbeck said. “I’ve never not signed a letter in my life. I would assume it’s from a current umpire or one of the 22.”

Depending on whether the 22 umpires who were let go last week count as part of the bargaining unit, there are either 71 or 93 major league umpires eligible to vote. Fourteen umpires issued a statement in July condemning Phillips, and the group now thinks it has the support of about 39.

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New York Yankee center fielder Bernie Williams did not play against Kansas City because he returned to New York for an MRI on his left shoulder that had been diagnosed earlier with tendinitis. Williams is expected to play Friday against Boston.

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Wil Cordero, who had been on the 60-day disabled list since breaking his left wrist in early June, was activated by the Cleveland Indians.. . . The Tampa Bay Devil Rays put Wade Boggs on the 60-day disabled list, one day after he underwent season-ending surgery on his right knee.