Philips Sues MLB

Former Umpire Union Head Richie Phillips Sues MLB, Officials

Claims of interference based on baseball's firing of umpires in '99

Philadelphia, January 5, 2001 -- Former Major League Baseball Umpires' Association counsel Richie Phillips filed a lawsuit in Philadelphia County Court against Major League Baseball, Commissioner Bud Selig and other league officials for alleged misconduct leading to his dismissal from the union. Phillips's suit seeks damages based on various tort actions, including interference with his contract.

In July of 1999, all of Major League Baseball's umpires offered resignations effective September 2nd of that year in order to pressure the Leagues to stop what umpires thought was unreasonable interference with their on-field performance as well as their union activities. Within days of the resignations, however, several umpires withdrew their resignations. The result was that the remaining umpires attempted to withdraw their resignations only to have the Leagues arbitrarily accept some but not all of the resignations. Twenty-two of the umpires have been out of baseball for more than a year. The Phillips firm has continued to represent those umpires in an effort to get them reinstated to their former jobs.

According to his lawyer, "Richie has been the subject of immense criticism for the way in which he handled negotiations for the umpires in the summer of 1999. But there is more to the story and that is what this lawsuit is all about." He continues: "The strategy employed by the Union and carried out by Richie was reasonable under the circumstances. The failure of the strategy was in large part due to a calculated plan to undermine Richie's authority and credibility with the umpires he served for 20 years."
J. Martinez/Sportsbusinessdaily.com