Non-Vested Ballplayers (1947-1979) To Receive $10K-yr as Compensation for Job Well Done

In the wake of the recent joint announcement by both Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) that inactive, non-vested men who played between 1947 and 1979 will receive up to $10,000 per year, depending on their length of service credit, as compensation for their contributions to the national pastime, Douglas J. Gladstone, the author of the controversial A Bitter Cup of Coffee; How MLB & The Players Association Threw 874 Retirees A Curve, called the agreement "only a partial victory.

 

"We don't live in a perfect world, and this is far from a perfect solution to this problem," said Gladstone, who is widely credited with spurring the league and union into action. "What was announced on April 21, 2011 doesn't provide health insurance coverage, nor will any player's spouse or loved one receive a designated beneficiary payment after the man passes. So in my estimation, this is only a partial victory.

"I am, however, elated that these men are at long last finally going to receive some type of payment for their time in the game," continued Gladstone. "This was a wrong that should have been righted years ago."

 

A Bitter Cup of Coffee tells the true story about a group of former big-league ballplayers denied pensions as a result of the failure of both the league and the union to retroactively amend the vesting requirement change that granted instant pension eligibility to ballplayers in 1980. As you may know, prior to that year, ballplayers had to have four years service credit to earn an annuity and medical benefits. Since 1980, however, all you have needed is one day of service credit for health insurance and 43 days of service credit for a pension.

 Here's, in part, what the Midwest Book Review had to say about the book in its official review, which was published in May 2010:

A wealth of interviews with former players, including heart-touching stories of the hard times some of them have endured, peppers this thoughtful and timely account, which gains especial relevance in light of the current debate about the state of health care in America.

 

And here's what Edward F. Coyle, the executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, said about the book:

Mr. Gladstone does an excellent job of weaving these players' individual stories into a book that is also a social cause. He should be commended for continuing to look out for these men.

 

George "The Stork" Theodore heads the lists of former Mets and Yankees who have received monies as a result of this decision. A guidance counselor for the Granite School District in Salt Lake City, Utah for the past three decades, he was a wildly popular outfielder in 1973 and 1974 for the Mets.

 

The payment plan works like this: to be eligible to collect the money, each man has to have played a minimum of 43 games, which is roughly one-quarter of a baseball season. For each quarter of a season you accrued, up to 16 quarters (4 years), MLB and the union dole out a whopping $625 to you.

 

Again, baseball is an $8 billion industry. The average salary today is $3.29 million. The minimum salary for even the 25th man riding the pines is $480,000. That's hardly peanuts.

 

But peanuts is what's being doled out to Theodore, as if he were a circus elephant. After taxes, you know what his payment amounts to?  A pittance of $3,700 per year.  And in a state like Utah, which the American Federation of Teachers ranked 49th out of 50 in terms of teacher salary, George could use all the help he can get.

 

To make matters worse still, these payments aren't even guaranteed -- they're only good through 2016. And they can't be passed on to a widow or loved one or child or other designated beneficiary. So if George croaks tomorrow, you know what his wife, Sabrina, would get?  Nothing.

 

The players' first check was disbursed in September 2011; a second installment was sent this last February, while the third was sent this past January.

 

The new collective bargaining agreement recently unveiled by the league and the union extend these payments through 2016.

 

Other ex-Mets profiting from this payment plan include Rod "Hot Rod" Gaspar; Bob Myrick, Hank Webb and Bill Halper. Ex Yankees  include pitchers Johnny James, Kenny Wright and Bill Burbach.

 "I've said on numerous occasions that this whole disgraceful chapter in labor relations was a terrible inequity and injustice that stained baseball's history," said Gladstone, whose book features a foreword written by the Emmy Award-winning broadcast journalist, Dave Marash. "The announcement is a step in the right direction, and I hope that both the league and the union will ultimately restore these men into pension coverage."

 I have attached a front cover of the book if you need it.

The book was published on April 14, 2010. Once again, thank you, in advance, for your attention to this email.  If you'd like to speak with Mr. Gladstone directly, feel free to contact him at 1-518-817-8253.  Mr. Theodore is available to be interviewed, and can be contacted in Salt Lake City at his home number of 801-583-7855.