Today in New York, agent Richard Moss and his partners will
unveil plans for the new United Baseball League, a "partnership"
between management and players. Sources say league organizers
believe 1996 is the "most feasible start-up date, but they
probably will give things a try in '95." Most MLB owners dismiss
talk of a new players' league as a "negotiating threat."
According to a prospectus, the United League would start with 10-
12 teams in six countries. MLBPA General Counsel Gene Orza:
"It's obviously something we have to explore. Our immediate
objective is to try to get a collectove baragining agreement ...
[but it is] could gain prominence if we get into November or
December and there's no settlement" (Mark Maske, WASHINGTON POST,
11/1). In Vancouver, Mike Beamish, who notes that Gary Davidson
of the WFL & WHA is one of the "principal figures" behind the
United League, reports that top Vancouver business leaders have
been contacted. Warren Buckley, chair of the B.C. Pavilion
Corp.: "Dick Moss feels Vancouver would be a natural jumping off
point" (VANCOUVER SUN, 11/1). Hal Bodley writes, "The moment
owners and players reach an agreement, the United Baseball League
will be kaput. Until then, it's something to talk about" (USA
TODAY, 11/1).
THE PARTNERSHIP: The new league will form a "true
partnership" between clubs and players, with the players
receiving 35% of each team's pretax profits and a 10% equity
share in all teams collectively. Also, the league will offer
cities 15% pretax profit and equity share in the teams in return
for construction of a "fan friendly" stadium or the use of an
existing "first-rate facility." Cities, in lieu of rent, would
receive 50% of luxury-suite revenue and 1/3 parking revenue
(Murray Chass, N.Y. TIMES, 11/1).
THE FOUNDERS: Besides the four principal founders -- Moss,
former U.S. Rep. Bob Mrazek, U.S. Rep. John Bryant and Smith
College economist Andrew Zimbalist -- the management company
includes Curt Flood, former U.S. Rep. Tom McMillen, banker Alan
Altschuler, former House Majority Whip Bill Gray (now Chair of
the United Negro College Fund), lobbyist Robert Keefe and Eric
Vinson, VP of the U.S. Trust Company (Murray Chass, N.Y. TIMES,
11/1).
