Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim C
And it appears that as many as four special packages maybe offered at seasons end.
BTW, this includes a possible career ending injury package.
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Well, don't know if Montague has any problems. Reilly has vertigo every now and then. Reed has been out with his 2 strokes and had a stress fracture in his foot trying to come back. Crawford and Hohn have back problems but Hohn is not 55 yet and needs this year to get his 20 in.
Hirschbeck had neck surgery last year. Seems like Danley has had a lot of concussions.
It appears the disability policy is not as good as it was when Bonin had to retire with his concussion per an article on Bonin.
Years ago, Phillips negotiated some contracts that gave the umps something like 300,000 if they retired 2 years early in a 3-4 year contract and 200,000 if they retired 1 year early and there probably have been special "individual" retirement packages every now and then.
Back in the first half of the 80's the umps had to retire by 55. A friend of mine who went to the school years ago said this is why they strongly discouraged (but could not force) older students from seeking a job. They knew they could not get the 20 years in for retirement if they started at 35-40 in the minors and they felt guilty and bad for guys not getting their 20 years (full pension) in because of the retirement at 55 policy.
Then, in 86 Reagan said you could not force people to retire early. This allowed several umpires (Dutch & Pulli) to work past 55 even though they got to the big leagues after the age of 35 and get their 20 years in. This will also help Cedarstrom who spent 18 years in the minors (Dutch spent 17), Barksdale and Hickox.