European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 28, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 34 the stars and stripes sports wednesday september 28.1994 i owners advised to think carefully by Claire Smith it is said thai the real business of Congress is conducted in the hallways and Back Hoorns on Capi Tol Hill. So it was not surprising that while members of a congressional committee were being exceedingly polite last thursday to  conduct the business of baseball More chilling words were uttered once the official proceedings ended. If the owners think they can delay Over the win Ter break the Union hire scabs and Mindr league players to fill the void i think they ought to think about it very carefully Jack Brooks a Democrat from Texas and chairman of the powerful House judiciary committee told reporters after Brooks had adjourned a hearing into baseball s antitrust exemption. /. ,.baseball owners like congressmen Wield a cer Tain authority take these strikingly different poses struck by two owners on that same Day that Brooks threatened to in Holster the Bud Selig the acting commissioner and owner of the Milwaukee Brewers called to testify on and justify baseball s horrible ending of the 1994 season officially informed the congressional committee that it is in the Best interest of baseball to Start the 1995 season with the major league players who Are currently on strike. Moments later though another owner had something to say in response to reports that owners Are already considering opening Camps in 1995, strike or to strike and would do so by employing players from Japan latin America the minor leagues As Well As any major leaguer willing to break ranks with the Union my chief objective is to get a major league agreement resolved with our players said Jerry Mcmorris of the Colorado Rockies. But i would open Campsie i have to open Camps. That is not my Choice and that is riot being said in a threatening manner. That in t my style. I want to resolve the problem. But there s pressure from a lot of different people who count on having baseball. You have a responsibility to stadium districts commentary fans businesses around the area the players the in Side personnel people who work around the Staci  ". To open Camps with major leagues still on strike would be a test of the Union. The National football league confronted its Union in 1987 during a regu Lar season walkout arid succeeded in persuading a goodly number of players to break with the National football league players association. Veterans crossed picket lines to join replacement players on the Field and the Backbone of the players Union was broken. That Union did not fully regain its footing for nearly a decade. Now baseball owners say it in t their intent to break the players Union. And even if it were one a. Would think that the Specter of picket line confront tons of Low level minor leagues being passed off As major league Talent of an imported 4abor Force would constitute one of baseball s worst nightmares. But says Mcmorris the worst scene is the one we be got Row where we Don t  baseball players like owners naturally Hope to resolve the dispute before the end of 1994. But there have been no formal talks since Selig officially cancelled the remainder of the season sept. 14. There have been Only four sessions since the players struck on aug. 12. This naturally leads to bits of cynicism and doubt and thoughts of a looming Battle in the Spring that no one seems to want but can t escape thinking about. Jay Howell a Relief Pitcher for the Texas rangers has now participated in two strikes and was locked out of Spring training with All other major leagues in1990. He never had to worry about replacements. Until now. Neither he nor any other major leagues Ever had to think about Manning a picket line toward off such workers. Until now. Howell does t pretend to know How this new unseemly wrinkle would play out. The Only thing he is willing to predict is that no players from the 40-Rrian roster members of the Union All would Cross a picket line. There May be some Beer leagues that have some Quality players and maybe there Are some softball players but i Don t know that too Many other players would show up Howell said after a Union meeting in Atlanta last week. That s not  that sort of Solidarity did t exist in the football players Union during the 1980s baseball owners acknowledge that fact even grudgingly Admire it. No less than Selig himself Calls the major league baseball players association the most successful Union in the history of the american labor move ment. Still such resolve and the recognition it prompts might not be enough to head off a confrontation next Spring. Selig swears he does t want such a Battle waged in front of the Snow Birds who flock to Florida and Arizona for a Little Sun fun and exhibition base Ball. And he insists owners Haven t broached the subject of replacement players. And when directly asked by Brooks if it is ownership s intention to break the players Union Selig replied the thought of break ing the Union is   Brooks said that he would have to take the owners at their word when they denounced the notion of Union busting. But Brooks a wry old pot who very much warmed to the task of trying to save baseball from itself last thursday also said something else by their votes you shall know them All other com ments Are  Brooks was referring to members of that polite committee. He could Well have been referring to owners and players too. By their actions we shall know them Tod. And if All important action is to be delayed until february then it does t matter what Selig or any other owner says in 1994. Nor does it matter what Union chief Don Nehf or Jack Brooks says in 1994. If the strike spills Over into 1995, what is done in the Spring in Florida in Arizona even in Washington will be the Only things of importance when it comes to determining the future of baseball. The new York time players see new league by Rick gang Chicago a players who at tended the latest briefing from their Union Leader say a new league is Likely if the Dis Pute does t end by Spring training. The Bottom line is that the owners Are trying to break the players Union and they Are not interested in bargaining. I really Don t think they care about the fair and what is going on said Chicago White sox first baseman Frank Thomas whose bid for a triple Crown was cur tailed when the season was cancelled a month after players went on strike. Thomas one of 56 players attending monday s meeting near o Hare International Airport said he expects no wavering by the Union. You never know there could be some Guys who jump the line but i have a feel ing that is not going to happen he said. It would be unheard of undoing what the players before us did. That s what they re trying to do make us take a giant step  Thomas and teammate Jack Mcdowell lost big Money during the strike. Mcdow Ell will miss More than $1 million in pay checks. When 1 broke in the dollars i m making now was not even thought of said my Deweil whose 1994 contract was for $5.3 million. The salary Cap would close that system up. Whether i recoup or not is not what it is about. It s about wronged  Killebrew shows e sym Frank Thomas. Owners Don t care there was some Brief discussions about starting a new league. We have seven or eight  have been told is that there Are 10 plus corporations that Are willing to sponsor us and there Are a lot of City owned stadiums where leases Haven to been fulfilled cubs player representative Randy Myers said. Some players on monday also said a threat to bring up minor leagues to fill out rosters would not work because fans would see the difference in Talent. Union head Donald Fehr said he had noticed a fair amount of anger during his meetings so far. What you have More than anything else is a cold resolve Well if that s the game they want to play then that s the one Well play " he said. London a it was billed As a Celebration of  these Days that s More of a contradiction in terms. A group of former major leagues including Hall of Farmers Harmon Kille brew and Ferguson Jenkins arrived in London Over the weekend for the Start of a european tour to promote the game. Inevitably. Their thoughts. Strayed tothe miserable state of things Back Home. I m bewildered said Jay Johnstone the charismatic outfielder who played 20 seasons with eight teams before retiring in 1985. No world series. I can t believe that it s come this  for a few moments it was easy to forget the strike that has crippled major league baseball arid forced the cancellation of the series for the first time since 1904. The former greats we re greeted enthusiastically by some 250 fans mostly american expatriates and their children who gathered for a one hour clinic and autograph session at a London Park. But once the batting pitching Fielding and reminiscing were Over everyone wanted to know about the  s a shame when you eliminate the playoffs or the world series said Kille brew who hit 573 Home runs before retiring in 1975. This is a difficult thing for All of us who have been involved in base Ball to  there were varied opinions about the strike. Killebrew at 58 the oldest of the group was less willing to show sympathy for the modern players cause than recent retirees such As Johnstone. When i signed in 1954, the minimum salary was $6,000," Killebrew said taking a stance echoed by Many owners. Today the minimum salary is $109,000. The average salary today is $1.2 million. I Don t understand what More they  Jenkins who won 284 games with four teams from 1965-83, also refused to let the players off the Hook and had Little to say in favor of either Side. The players need to get to understand that what s Good for the game is Good for them too said Jenkins now a minor league coach in the Cincinnati reds organization. The players just can t handle the salary Cap. The owners gave the play ers an Opportunity to make All that Money and now they want to get some of that Back and it s just not going to  tug Mcgraw who pitched in three world series in a career that spanned 1965-84, also struggled with where to pin Point the blame. Being out of the Loop it s difficult for me to understand the crisis in any sub a stantian Way Mcgraw said. It s out of control. It s difficult to Point the Finger in any one direction. I Side with the players in terms of salary Cap. It seems that Trust is the problem Mcgraw said. The players Don t Trust the owners. Owners Don t Trust the play ers. Until they can establish some work ing relationship in which they can Trust each other for what they say there won the an  Jenkins agreed. It s going to take a while to Settle it he said. It s too