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NEW YORK (AP) — Ray Grebey, who led Major League Baseball labor negotiations during the tumultuous 50-day strike that split the 1981 season, has died. He was 85.
Grebey died Aug. 28 in Stamford, Conn., and a memorial mass was held Wednesday at St. Timothy's Church in Greenwich, Conn. His son, Clarence R. (Bud) Grebey III, said Wednesday his father was diagnosed with stomach cancer in late July and the disease was aggressive.
Hired by baseball owners in 1978 following 20 years at General Electric Co., the pipe-smoking Grebey succeeded John Gaherin as the sport's chief labor negotiator. After arbitrator Peter Seitz struck down the reserve clause, Gaherin had worked out the deal in 1976 that created free agency.
Grebey went up against longtime union head Marvin Miller in the 1980-81 labor talks, which led to a bruising work stoppage over the issue of compensation for free agents. Commissioner Bowie Kuhn was absent from the bargaining table, leaving Grebey to bear the criticism.
"When they call me a 'liar' and a 'snake' and cast aspersions on my integrity, I am offended," Grebey said during a July 1981 interview with The Associated Press. "I boil inside. I can't describe how much it hurts. And my whole family suffers with me."
Players struck the final eight days of spring training in 1980, forcing cancellation of 92 exhibition games, and the sides agreed that May to a four-year contract that allowed the issue of free agent compensation to be reopened the following season.
Players struck on June 12, 1981, the first midseason stoppage in the sport's history, and they didn't reach an agreement until July 31.
American League President Lee MacPhail joined the talks for an all-night meeting that led to the settlement on terms similar to the union's original proposal. Compensation would come from a pool of players, not from the team signing a free agent.
The most significant shift under the deal came in January 1984, when the New York Mets failed to include Tom Seaver among their 26 protected players. The future Hall of Famer was claimed by the Chicago White Sox, who had lost Dennis Lamp to Toronto.
The compensation draft was dropped in the 1985 negotiations, and the last remaining vestige — amateur draft-pick compensation — was eliminated last year.
"It was a million-dollar strike over a 10-cent issue," Grebey once said.
Owners had purchased $50 million in strike insurance, a payment of $100,000 for each game missed starting 13 days after the walkout and running through July 20. As soon as the insurance ran out, management's solidarity broke down.
"There was a total internal collapse within the ownership in the last 20 days, and the internecine warfare was as bad as anything," Grebey told the AP in 1991, adding "the backstabbing began a little before" the insurance ran out.
A total of 713 games were canceled by the time the season resumed with the All-Star game at Cleveland's Municipal Stadium on Aug. 9.
"He had a very difficult task but performed it professionally and with courtesy," said former players' association head Donald Fehr, who became Miller's top lawyer in 1977.
"In the years since, I spoke to him from time to time and we often shared memories of that time," Fehr said Wednesday.
Despite the bitter talks, Grebey in 2009 urged the Hall of Fame to induct Miller.
"No other individual played a more prominent role in creating the structure and process within which today's game is played," he wrote in a December 2009 letter to the Hall's board. "History will not ignore Miller's role in reshaping the game of baseball."
Grebey's letter was dated two days after Miller fell two votes shy of the nine needed for election by the Hall's Veterans Committee for Executives and Pioneers. Miller finished one vote short in December 2010 and died last November at age 95. He is eligible for the ballot again this December.
Clarence Raymond Grebey Jr. was born in Chicago on March 10, 1928. He was graduated by Kenyon College, received an MBA degree from the University of Chicago and served in the U.S. Army in Korea.
Grebey left baseball in 1982 and was replaced by MacPhail as MLB's labor negotiator, and Grebey was hired as a vice president with Pan American World Airways. In a 1985 interview with The Associated Press, he called the baseball talks a "living hell" but said he missed the sport.
He left Pan Am in 1989 to become a founding executive of the Trump Shuttle and stayed on when it was partially acquired by US Airways Group Inc. in 1992. He left when US Air completed the acquisition in 1997.
Grebey was hired as chief labor negotiator for the City of Stamford and appointed to the Connecticut State Board of Labor Relations.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Marilyn Isett Grebey; his son; and daughters Nancy Grebey and Chris Grebey.
RONALD BLUM, AP Sports Writer
Copyright © 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
25 Entries
Valenda Newell
November 9, 2016
To the Grebey Family
My condonlences to your family.
In the near family God will bring about a wonderful time when dearth and suffering will be no more.
September 10, 2013
He died a hero. Now he is walking Heaven's Hall of Fame. God bless each and every member of the family.
Jack K
September 9, 2013
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
G. Freeman
September 9, 2013
To the family of Mr Grebey.Sorry for your loss and here's a promise from god "and he will wipe out every tear from their eye and death will be no more, neither mourning nor outcry nor pain be any more. The former things have passed away."
September 9, 2013
We send our condolences to the family of Ray Grebey.Draw close to God in prayer in the days ahead-Psalms 65:2.
Lynn
September 8, 2013
God never forgets our works, especially if found in the way of righteousness -Hebrews 6:10
September 8, 2013
With deepest sympathy to the Grebey family during your time of grief...God is for you a refuge and strength, A help that is there to be found during difficult times...May God provide you with peace and comfort to endure the days ahead...(Psalm 62:8).
September 8, 2013
May you find eternal peace and happiness.
Pat Fiorill
September 7, 2013
May the God of all comfort be with you during this difficult time in your life. We all yearn for better conditions. It's refreshing to know that God's word speaks of a time when all sorrows will be gone and that mankind will live in beautiful surroundings with nothing to fear.-Isaiah 65:17,21-24 will shed light on this.
M. Harmon
September 7, 2013
To the family & friends, "...he will also make the way out in order for you to be able to endure it."- 1 Corinthians 10:13
September 7, 2013
I was touched by Ray's sensitive comment in his life story when he was maligned unfairly and commented on how those remarks affected even his family. What a man of integrity!!! Such a caring and humble man. The God of the Bible cherishes men of integrity. Ps 26:1.
CECIL COLLINS
September 7, 2013
My deepest condolences. "You also therefore are now indeed having grief but I shall see you again and your hearts will rejoice and your joy no one will take from you. John.
Olga Oquendo
September 7, 2013
May you find great comfort in the happy memories of your loved one until you are reunited.
September 7, 2013
My condolences to the Grebey family. May you find comfort from God's word recorded at Ecclesiastes 9:5,10 regarding the loss of your loved one.
September 6, 2013
My condolences to the family and friends. May you find comfort from the peace of God at this time of sorrow-Phillipians 4:6, 7. E.D. Park Forest, IL.
September 6, 2013
Condolences and Prayers are sent to the Grebey family. Fond memories of working with Ray on committees in Cicero during the 1960's.
Leo Carter
September 5, 2013
We were sad to hear the passing or MR RAY I hope the family can find strength to carry on in these difficult days,may you have peace Ps 59:17 and 2Co 1:2-4.
Robin
September 5, 2013
My sincere condolences are with your family.
Psalms 37:10,11
September 5, 2013
Sorry for your loss. May you find comfort in the Hearer of prayer at this time. Psalm 65:2
September 5, 2013
I am very sorry for the loss of your husband. I am sure the wonderful memories that the two of you shared will help you to cope you with your grief.
September 5, 2013
in God's care rest in peace
Dwayne Bickham
September 4, 2013
With deepest sympathy to the family during your time of sorrow. God is for us a refuge and strength. (Psalms 91:2) May you find the needed strength from God, family and friends.
Barber
September 4, 2013
May the God of all comfort be with you.
Bankston
September 4, 2013
may our loving god grant your family peace and comfort at this sad time. thank you ray for helping settle the 81 baseball strike. rest in peace
victor checketts
September 4, 2013
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