From the archives: '97: Yanks-Mets / AL vs. NL OK'd by owners

This story was orignially published in Newsday on January 19, 1996

Los Angeles - Major-league baseball owners yesterday took a major step toward shedding their image as stodgy, backward-thinking traditionalists by voting to implement interleague play in 1997. While they are calling the move "experimental," nobody here is treating this like a one-year deal.

With little discussion and no voiced dissent, baseball owners unanimously approved a concept that has gained momentum like a boulder rolling downhill. According to an overjoyed acting commissioner Bud Selig and other owners who attended the four-hour meeting, there wasn't even a mention of a potential controversy arising over the problem of the designated hitter, or any other potential difficulties.

"We think it's the best thing that's happened to baseball in a couple of years," said Tigers president John McHale Jr. "We think it's great."

Yesterday was a rare day for total good feeling in the baseball community, which has taken its hits during the past few years, particularly for its inability to make labor peace with its players. And while Selig again noted that the concept of interleague play needs the players' approval, everyone here assumes that will be no problem.

The union's one main question would concern the possible demise of the DH because of the expected push for uniformity; however, that isn't even a question in '97, when the DH will be used in American League cities only.

Interleague play will become a subject of collective bargaining, and Selig refuted the notion that he was handing over a bargaining chip to the union. "Somebody has to take the first step," he said.

Nobody was willing to speculate as to what might happen to the DH beyond '97. Because National League owners are almost universally adamant in their opposition to the DH and some AL owners are lukewarm about the idea, there is a chance the DH could be obliterated as early as '98. That, however, would have to be approved by the players' union, which in the past has voiced concern that the loss of the DH could eliminate some high-paying jobs.

According to one general manager, Selig yesterday chided Orioles owner Peter Angelos after reading quotes attributed to Orioles GM Pat Gillick supporting the DH and questioning what interleague play might do to the position, but Selig called the DH a "non-issue" after yesterday's meeting.

Union chief Don Fehr issued a statement yesterday that said, "The concept of interleague play in major-league baseball is certainly intriguing, worthy of serious consideration. As we look for ways to grow the game and make it better for our fans, interleague games deserve a hard look. We look forward to discussing these ideas with the clubs."

Under the 1997 plan, teams would play 15 or 16 interleague games, depending on whether they are in a fouror five-team division. Teams from the AL East would play teams from the NL East, with Central playing Central and West playing West. Interleague games would be played in late June and early August of '97.

The current thinking is that the interleague schedule could well be expanded to no more than 30 games the following year. There is also a great likelihood that the East won't play the East every year, that the divisions will play each other on a rotating basis so that each city eventually will have a chance to host every team.

What about the World Series teams already having played each other during the regular season? "There's nothing in the Constitution of the United States that forbids that," Selig said. "I remember sitting at the Super Bowl last year and watching San Francisco play San Diego, and somebody said they played last November. There was no less interest."

For an idea of how long the interleague idea has been kicked around, Selig noted that he chaired a committee on interleague play in 1973. He said he has always supported the concept.

Despite polls detailing fan support for interleague play for "24 or 25 years," according to Selig, baseball owners could not agree on implementing the idea until now. And despite the two-decade-plus delay on approval, Selig called the concept a "no-brainer."

In the past four years, baseball's powers, formerly slow to change, have expanded by four teams, realigned into three divisions and added a wild-card playoff format. "For years we were considered high-brow traditionalists, unwilling to adjust," Selig said. "We are creating new levels of interest, and doing things, frankly, that the fans want." Phillies president Bill Giles, who spearheaded the interleague idea, said recent fan polls say 63 percent support the idea.

Also approved yesterday was the Walt Disney Company's acquisition of 25 percent of the financially struggling Angels from Gene and Jackie Autry for about $ 30 million. The agreement says Disney has the option to purchase the remaining 75 percent at a later date. The sale of the Pirates to newspaper heir Kevin McClatchy was deferred.

The owners also discussed the concept of revenue-sharing on an interim basis until a labor agreement can be hammered out.

THE BIG PICTURE
Of 2,268 games in 1997, 214 would be interleague

The Schedule

East and Central Divisions
12 games each against 4 divisional opponents48
11 games each against other 9 teams in league99
3 games each against 5 interleague opponents15

West Divisions

12 games each against 3 divisional opponents36
11 games each against other 10 teams in league 110
4 games each against 4 interleague opponents 16
Total 162

When Will Games Be Scheduled? In late June and early August.

What About the DH Rule? The designated hitter will be used in AL ballparks but not NL ballparks in 1997, the same arrangement as the All-Star Game and World Series.

The Future
-- Interleague opponents could rotate by division, meaning each team would face each team from the other league once every three years.

-- The number of interleague games could expand to 30 per team.

-- The proposal is subject to the approval of the Major League Baseball Players Association.