Evening star., 1953-12-08
Chandler Role
lin Pension Row
lis Uncovered
Ex-Commissioner
Advised Delegates
Not to Meet Frick
BY the Associoted Press


Chandler counseled the major
league player representatives on
their pension rights and advised
them not to go into the Atlanta
meeting with Commissioner Ford
Frick, the Associated Press
learned today.
This new development in the
bitter pension dispute between
the players and club owners came
to light not many hours before
the National and American
League executives met to make
important decisions regarding
the players demands.
The Is player representatives,
at their special meeting in At
lanta last Wednesday, telephoned
Chandler at his home at Ver-
sailles. KY, for advice before de-
Gliding whether to meet with
Frick.
Chandler, in an answer to q
question, informed the players
that all radio and television
money of the World Series and
All-Star games belonged to them
and rightfully belonged in the
pension fund. He advised them
not to meet with Frick without
the presence of their lawyer, J..
Norman Lewis. The players fol-
lowed his advice, walking out on
the commissioner when he re-
fused to allow Lewis to attend
the meeting.
Kiner Amends Statement.
Ralph Kiner, National League
player representative who earlier
had denied that baseball's Extcu-
tive Council had passed a reso-
luton September 20 to consider
ending the pension plan,
amended the statement last
night.
The Cubs slugging outfielder
said from his home in Palm
Springs. Calf, the only resolu-
tion proposed with which he was
in agreement was to name a
committee to see if it would be
possible to turn over the pension
plan to the players.
when we. got to Atlanta"
Kiner declared, I'VE found the
resolution had been changed
somewhere along the line"
Kiner's version was in sharp
variance with that of Commits
sioner Frick. who presided over
the September 20 meeting. Frick
insisted both major league player
representatives-Kiner and Allie
Of the Yankees-were
present at the meeting, along
with Lewis. The commissioner
pointedly added that Kiner and
voted in favor of the
resolution.
Frick Says Vote Was 60.
Reynolds was not available at
his home in Oklahoma City for
comment, but Lewis backed up
Kiner, asserting that no such
resolution had been passed.
"Kiner, Reynolds and their at
torney, Lewis. all were present
when the resolution was offered
by Walter F. O'Malley, president
of the Brooklyn Dodgers" Frick
said.
Il stopped the voting once and
told them they were going to
hurt the pension plan, but they
continued the discussion and
voted unanimously, 60. I have
only one interest, to save the
pension plan. My only motive
was to protect the plan"
O'Malley supported the COM
missioner. adding that a check
of the minutes would prove that
all three were present and voted
for the resolution.
There is no question but that
Kiner and Reynolds voted in
favor of the resolution in the
presence of their lawyer"
O'Malley said. 'Kiner is a fine.
clear-thinking young man who
is being sincere in his efforts to
carry out his obligation. But it
could be he has the wrong ap-
proach."
Rejection Almost Certain.
The owners were almost GER
tain to reject the players de-
for a boost in pension
benefits from $50 to $50 for five
year men and from $100 to $3.50
for 10-year men while cutting
the age eligibility from so to As.
Kiner said the players based
their requests for increased pen
sions on the consideration that
more money would be available
in 1856 when the plan would
normally be renegotiated under
the five-year setup.
He said in two years the ST.
100000 still owed from the origi-
nal $4,500,000 for prorated pay
ments on old ball players would
be paid up. That, he added,
would leave between $3.50, 900 and
81 100000 additional money
available each year from the
World Series and All-Star game
television money.
This money has to 60 some
(See PENSIONS, Page C-3)