Hear ye! Hear ye! Court is in session.
Do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth?
“I do, your honor.”
Will you state your name and occupation?
“My name is Clark Griffith. I am an attorney in Minneapolis.”
And before that you were an executive vice president with the Minnesota Twins baseball team. Is that correct?
“Yes. I was a third-generation baseball man. My father, Calvin, owned the Twins. And before that his father owned the old Washington Senators.”
We have summoned you because of your experience on the owners’ Player Relations Committee. According to our records you were a member of the PRC for six years, including 1981, the year of the 50-day players’ strike. We are anxious to hear your views on the current shutdown.
“It appears there is a stalemate because management is saying, `We want to negotiate the cost of labor, terms of employment and other benefits.’ The union, on the other hand, has merely said, `We want the minimum salary doubled and the eligibility for salary arbitration lowered to two years.’
“The union has not responded to management’s request for a salary cap and revenue sharing. The way I see it, the ball is in the players’ court, and they say nothing.”
Is this an insurmountable deadlock?
“Your honor, nothing is insurmountable. If the players indicate a willingness to compromise they can settle in 24 hours. It’s not complex. The dispute is about more than dollars. There is a philosophical difference.
“The players are locked into a situation in which they insist they will never give anything back. The owners are coming at this as a business transaction. The players must understand this is not a moral issue, of right or wrong. It’s an issue that deals in the economic system of the game.”
The court understands that you are privy to insider information.
“That is correct. I still have many friends in baseball.”
Can you inform us of some of the so-called inside dope?
“Yes, I can give you some examples. Two weeks ago when they had those two expanded negotiation sessions, Lauren Rich lectured the owners for 45 minutes on the philosophical correctness of free agency, that players have a right to a free market that is akin to the basic Constitutional rights.”
Who is Lauren Rich?
“She is one of the attorneys in the employ of the Players Association. She seems to be a bright woman. But she’s wrong. The skirmish is simply a negotiation aimed at settling an economic dispute.”
From the information you have gathered was there any mention of Don Fehr, the union chief, engaging in a heated discussion with David Glass, who represents the Kansas City Royals?
“I can’t characterize it as heated, but I do know Mr. Glass was very upset when Mr. Fehr told him he was a newcomer to baseball and doesn’t know the business. Mr. Glass is the head of Wal-Mart. He is certainly not a novice when it comes to business.”
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Is there any chance for an 11th-hour settlement?
“Yes, it’s a possibility, but the chances are very slim. It has been my experience, from participating in previous negotiations, that the union officials don’t know how to make a deal. They have had a history of continual success. But this time it looks like they’re going to lose. The owners, in my view, will remain firm.”
So, in your opinion there will not be a World Series?
“We will all be very sad. The World Series is my favorite sports event. I’ve been to most of them in the last 30 years. It’s a magical moment in sports. I always root for a victory that will carry the Series to the seventh game.”
And then what?
“The owners will declare an impasse and will implement their proposals. The players will scream.”
Wouldn’t this place the 1995 season in danger?
“I don’t think so. The owners should open their spring training camps as they normally do. That’s No. 1. And they should send out contracts, just as they always do. Nothing changes except the salary cap is in place.
“What you must realize is that each year there is a significant turnover in player personnel. There are probably 75 to 100 players in the minors, who, on an annual average, are promoted to major-league clubs. And 75 to another 100 now on big-league rosters who will not be back. They will either lose jobs to younger players or retire. This is the usual attrition rate.
“So, immediately you have a turnover of about 130 to 150 players. That’s 20 percent, a big chunk of the members of the Players Association. And the big leaguers will realize they lost the battle and will begin reporting to spring training. I just hope it’s a mass surrender. Otherwise, it would split the players into two factions, those who reported early and those who reported late. There could be a lot of beanballs.”
You may step down, Mr. Griffith. The court thanks you for your expertise. It has been most enlightening.
“You’re welcome, your honor. Good fortune to you.”