BIRDS SET FREE: ORIOLES REACH SETTLEMENT WITH MLBPA

          The Orioles have reached a settlement with the MLBPA
     that allows Rafael Palmeiro, Brady Anderson and Jeffrey
     Hammonds to continue endorsing PepsiCo products, according
     to Jerry Crasnick of BLOOMBERG BUSINESS NEWS.  As part of
     the settlement, the three players will now be able to "take
     part" in MLB promotional events at Camden Yards for Coca-
     Cola, which has a sponsorship deal with the team.  The O's
     filed a grievance in April after the three posed for a Pepsi
     promo.  But in the settlement, the players "were allowed to
     maintain their commercial ties with Pepsi -- with some
     future restrictions," and therefore received no financial
     compensation.  The three Oriole players will appear in a
     regional Pepsi promo this summer and MLBPA Assistant General
     Counsel Michael Weiner said that while the players'
     contracts with PepsiCo extend beyond '98, the settlement
     "places some limitations" on promotional work they can do
     for the company after this year (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 6/19).