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Jack Morris, the Detroit ace no other team could find any use for last spring, says of the owners, "They were crooks two years ago. They were crooks last year. And they'll be crooks again if we let them. Let's see if anything changes." Roberts' next step is to reconvene the advocates of management and labor to argue over the long-term remedies, as well as the financial damages presumably owed Gibson and the rest. As Baseball Union Boss Donald Fehr interprets the ruling, "Some people might say the owners have been convicted and are waiting to be sentenced." For the moment, however, the football players have a clearer understanding of the price of freedom.
CHART: TEXT NOT AVAILABLE
CREDIT: TIME Chart by Cynthia Davis
CAPTION: FREE AND NOT SO FREE
The top contracts for pitchers and hitters who became free agents after the 1984 season, compared with 1985, when owners did not bid on other teams' favored players.
DESCRIPTION: Color illustration: Profile of baseball player.