August 19, 2002


For Immediate Release


Contact: Jamie Bearse
T:703-920-7082
M:703-477-7081
E: jamiebearse@...



BASEBALL FAN GROUPS URGE
`NATIONWIDE WALKOUT ON BASEBALL'
FOR MIDNIGHT TUESDAY

Fans Plan Holdout Against Major League Baseball
Until Strike is Averted

With the strike threat of America's Favorite Pastime looming just
days away, leading baseball fan organizations recommend a nationwide
walkout from Major League Baseball games starting Tuesday, August 20
at midnight.
"It's important to show both the players and the owners just what to
expect if and when they return from the scheduled strike," Baseball
Fans Unite International President Bob May said. "Both sides have to
understand that there'll be nothing to come back to without the
fans."
A "Nationwide Walkout on Baseball" - suggested by two grassroots
baseball fan advocacy groups (Baseball Fans Unite International and
MLBFanStrike.com - calls for fans to participate in a full boycott of
Major League Baseball - refraining from attending or following any
games and purchasing merchandise until the players take the strike
date off the table or a new collective bargaining agreement is
reached.
"Our call to action is to have the two sides forge an agreement
before the strike deadline of August 30," MLBFanStrike.com President
Jeff Santaite said. "But as a last resort, we urge the players to
take the strike date off the table in return for the owners
guaranteeing that they will not lockout players or make unilateral
changes to the collective bargaining agreement following the World
Series. This will enable the two sides to continue bargaining in good
faith without the threat of a work stoppage hanging over their
heads."
As a result from widespread national media coverage, both
organizations have been flooded with email from thousands of
disgruntled fans from across the country. Many fans report that teams
are refusing to offer refunds for tickets already purchased for major
league games.
Both groups have been urging Major League Baseball teams to issue
refunds for tickets already purchased by fans with the cost to be
split equally between players and owners. Baseball Fans Unite
International and Baseballfanstrike.com now lists email, addresses
and phone numbers for Bud Selig, Donald Fehr, and all MLB teams to
allow fans easy access to demand refunds and lodge complaints. The
website will also list links to the President and members of Congress
to allow fans to write their representative requesting mediation to
save baseball.
"Our hope is that President Bush, members of government and
celebrities join our efforts and back the fans," said May. "Let
America's Pastime continue without another work stoppage whether it
be by strike or unilateral lockout."
If the strike plan does continue to move ahead, baseball fans are
also reminded that the Major League Baseball standoff this month
coincides with the Little League World Series - where the players
actually do play for the love of the game.