Richie Phillips, 1999 News

58, lawyer and combative union leader, seriously misjudged Major League Baseball when he urged umpires in July to collectively resign unless the league agreed to sign a new contract (before the old one expired) that would give them higher salaries, more vacation time, and more respect. The contentious plan divided the union, and the league called his bluff and fired more than 20 umpires.


1999 People in the News