FRANCHISE NOTES

          Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Joe Gray ruled
     that a Raiders lawsuit "which claims the team can break its
     lease at Network Associates Coliseum," can proceed to trial. 
     Judge Gray decided that the "heart of the lawsuit was not
     filed too late, reversing a tentative ruling he made about
     two weeks ago" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 10/20)....The Pirates
     will increase field-level box seats from $17 to $18 next
     season. Club boxes will remain at $16; prices for terrace
     boxes, family boxes, reserved seats, general admission and
     youth general admission will go up $1.  The increase is the
     third for the team in eight seasons, but the team remains
     with the third-lowest ticket price in MLB (Mult., 10/20).