The United League, which was announced during the '94 strike
as an alternative baseball league to MLB and was to have started
in '97, suspended operations without playing a game. The league
attributed the move to "a failed TV deal and stadium problems."
Last August, UBL leaders had announced a TV deal with Liberty
Sports, but Liberty merged operations with Fox, then agreed to a
deal with MLB owners starting next season. UBL cities were to be
New York, L.A., DC, New Orleans, Puerto Rico and Central FL, plus
two other cities (WASHINGTON TIMES, 4/12). The major leagues
have not been challenged since the Federal League, which started
in '14 and folded in '15 (MONTREAL GAZETTE, 4/12).
WINNER, AND STILL CHAMPION: MLB may be free of competition,
but owners and players are no closer to a labor deal. USA
TODAY's BASEBALL WEEKLY reports officials from both sides "insist
players' service time, which is a potential deal breaker down the
road, hasn't been discussed. One member of the management
negotiating team said the hope is to reach agreement on every
other detail before taking up service time." There also were
"rumblings" about setting up a search committee to find a new
commissioner, although that was denied by several club execs
(BASEBALL WEEKLY, 4/10-16).
