FRANCHISE NOTES

          The Reds are adding black to their uniforms and caps
     next season for a "slightly different" look.  Though the
     design won't be unveiled until January, the new black-and-
     red caps "have already begun appearing in local stores." 
     Reds Managing Exec John Allen said the change was made
     because "black is very popular" (CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, 12/8).
     ...MLB "is asking" the Padres to return to Monterrey,
     Mexico, to play the Rockies on April 4 for what "could be"
     the opening game of the '99 season (UNION-TRIBUNE, 12/8).
     ...About 80% of the 25,000 tickets the Mariners sold over
     the weekend, in the team's first early ticket sales since
     '94, were for the second half of the '99 season, when the
     team will play at Safeco Field (SEATTLE TIMES, 12/8).