European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 6, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine free Agency striking Over the principle and the Money by Michael Goodwin new York times free agent. The words evoke images olso Meone without restrictions or allegiance someone tree to come or go or stay in on sense the notion of a Iree agent is a american As the right to Liberty. Bui in sports. The words tree a genl arc lighting words. Or Al least striking words in an extraordinary coincidence of Liming both major league baseball and professional to Ollala arc being rocked by the Issue. An arbitrator ruled Cpl 21 Hal the 26 owners of baseball learns had improperly conspired to destroy the system of ire age nov barely 10 hours later the head of the National football league players association announced hat inc Union unable to negotiate changes wih owners in nil Yak  i Hanoi Jones rules covering lice Agency would Slatko the Noil Day. Although negotiations continued virtually All 1,500 nil players first of All stayed out of their locker rooms Many Laking up positions on picket lines teams scrambled to line up non Union players but not fast enough no games were played that first strike weekend in theory tree Agency is simple an Al Iole whose con race has expired is Iree to Oiler his services to any Loam just As a learn owner is ire to Oiler his services to any team just As a team owner is Iree to sign any allele not under contract Bui Iho Issue of when and How a player becomes free 15 the subject of Complex rules and it has led to several previous strikes playe a and Banc Fri in the Lour major Loam sports a if Jall. Loo Iball basketball and hockey have negotiated void diff int  Hal All restrict from Agency. But disputes Over the Issue Are similar. In each athletes say they arc fighting Tor try com while owners stress the need for competitive  stripped of oratory though the bal Les Over Froc Agency Are about Money. Lots of Money. In 1976, the last season before baseball got free Agency the average player salary was �51,501. In 1986, the average was �412,520. That climb began shortly alter an arbitrator ruled in late 1975 that two pitchers Andy messers Miln and Dave Mcnally Wero tree to sign with any team Tho landmark Case entered on a Standard clause in player contracts giving teams the option to renew each contract for one year alter in expired. That meant contracts could to renewed in perpetuity Iho owners argued unsuccessfully because the option clause was renewed each time the contract was renewed. The next year owner and players negotiated some rules Uch As How Many years experience a player needed before gaining the right to become a free agent and modest compensation for owners who lost free agents. The players began cashing in on their Freedom with the help of their former captors. Led by George Steinbrenner of the Yankees owners bid against cacti other Tor stars. Among the first beneficiaries was Reggie Jackson he outfielder who signed a live year contract with the Yankees in 1976 for about s3 million and helped Lead them to world series victories in 1977 and 197s. The Yankees Success along with rapidly rising salaries for scores of other Iree agents and the Many players who were threatening to become tree agents scared the owners. They and the commissioner. Bowie Kuhn said learns in smaller cities with lower attendance and revenues would go broke or become dumping grounds for players nobody else wanted. Although the 1901 season was slopped by a 50 Day player strike when the owners demanded but did no gel much More compensation for teams losing free agents baseball has generally thrived with Iree Agency. Attendance has set new records almost every year and the flow of television dollars has increased. And the wealthy big City learns have not dominated. Still in the last two years under a new commissioner Peter Ueberroth the free a genl Market collapsed new stars such As Detroit s Kirk Gibson. Received no oilers from other icon is Allie the 1985 or 1936 seasons. Thus there was Lille Surprise when Thomas Roberts the arbitral or ruled that the owners had found a my Way of slopping themselves from competing by not bidding on any Iree agent whose previous learn still wanted him. The Elfeel was that players could neither move nor exercise much leverage in bargaining win their previous learn Roberts has scheduled meetings to determine what penalties to impose football meanwhile has a much More limited free agent system in part because of the players Union although the players won a court Case 10 years ago on the suboc1, much of thai advantage was sold Back to the owners Foi improved pensions and Severance payments on free Agency the owners and players agreed Hal a team signing a top free a genl must give up ils right to draft one or two promising College players that requirement ads As a deterrent to signing the Bosl free agents forcing Ihm to to sign will sheif old  or retire the owners altered to modify the compensation requirement bul the slayers want in Climma cd from a Public Rel hons standpoint the players struck at a bad Lime because their salaries have risen sharply. In 1982, the average was $90.000. Now it is either $214.000. The Union s esl Imato. Or $230,000, management s bul there is an explanation salaries Rose largely because of the United states Foo shall t  which offered Large contracts to entice Prommel players. The result was a 25 be cell increase in the  nil salary in Bolh 1083 and 19fw. The new ear Jijo s Kirbt i to years and 19 pc cent in 1985 its last Ca on since the Usel lol Dod average Mil salaries  Iron Only 5 Poi cont a year and lice Agency has Ari Airi become an Issue it plays Are willing to Sluke. A or tuesday october. 1987 the stars and stripes Pago 13