The Orioles spared their season-ticket customers a potentially agonizing choice yesterday when they declared that fans who renew their seats for the 1995 season can get refunds if striking major-leaguers are supplanted by replacement players.
"We're not interested in proposals that suggest resuming major-league baseball [should be] accomplished through the use of minor-league players," Orioles vice chairman Joe Foss said late yesterday. "But if we are in that unfortunate position, we will accommodate the wishes of our fans, including a full refund, if they want it."
Until yesterday, the Orioles had been silent on their policy regarding replacement games. That has caused concern and confusion for many Orioles season-ticket holders. Those worries mounted this week as season-ticket customers received renewal notices, advising them of a Dec. 15 payment deadline.
"It's a nice gesture on his [owner Peter Angelos] part to give you the option," said Doug Franz, a contractor from Baltimore who has shared a full season-ticket plan with two other people since the 1980s. He said they planned to renew their tickets. "We'd be fearful of losing our seats to someone else just waiting in line to grab hold of them."
He is not alone in that regard.
Since the Orioles cap season-ticket sales at 27,500 and maintain a waiting list of another 13,000, fans who give up their seats can figure on waiting a long time to get them back.
The Orioles become one of several major-league teams to make the refund offer. The St. Louis Cardinals, Milwaukee Brewers, California Angels and Chicago White Sox also have given their fans money-back guarantees. White Sox fans can demand their money if they don't like the way the team plays during its first four homestands.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported that as many as 10 teams are talking about cutting their ticket prices if owners decide to use replacement players. The Orioles are on that list, according to the AP report. But Foss said it was premature to discuss that issue.
Season-ticket holder Dan Florea agrees with him. He already has sent in the money for the full-season plan of four lower box seats he has shared with a friend since 1989.
"I was assuming the strike would be over before spring training," said Florea, a mortgage banker who lives in Baltimore. "I guess I'm just an optimist."
As for the Orioles' refund policy, Foss said details have not been worked out. But he added, "I hope it would go on a game-to-game basis."
He said fans who turned back tickets to replacement games would not jeopardize their status.
"Our intention is not to say, 'Here's your refund. Ha, you are now at the end of the line, behind 13,000 people on the waiting list' " Foss said. "We want to deal with fans honestly and fairly."
Angelos has been an outspoken critic of the idea of using replacement players. It's not clear whether he would go along with his fellow owners or attempt to block the Orioles from playing with replacement teams.
In Baltimore, the issue of replacement games is especially touchy because of its potential effect on Cal Ripken's consecutive-games streak. Ripken, whose streak enters its 14th year next season, is on track to surpass Lou Gehrig's string of games in August. But the mark apparently would end if the Orioles field a replacement team, one without Ripken in the lineup.
Said Foss: "We are committed to Cal's consecutive-games streak remaining intact, and we will do everything within our ability to bring that about.
"Our goal is that the major-league labor dispute is resolved through a constructive collective bargaining process that does not hinge on the use of replacement players, and we believe that goal can be achieved."