George Nicolau dies at 94, arbitrator in MLB collusion cases

NEW YORK (AP) — George Nicolau, who ruled against baseball owners in two collusion cases and served as president of the National Academy of Arbitrators, has died. He was 94.

Nicolau died Jan. 2 at Lenox Hill Hospital, Gene Orza, the former chief operating officer of the Major League Baseball Players Association, said Friday.

Nicolau took over as the independent chairman of Major League Baseball's arbitration panel in 1986 after owners fired Thomas Roberts, who ruled teams acted in concert against free agents after the 1985 season. Nicolau decided teams acted in concert against free agents after the 1986 and 1987 seasons. The cases were settled in 1990 when management agreed with the players' union to pay those players affected $280 million.

In another notable decision, Nicolau decided in 1987 to cut short a season-long suspension of free agent pitcher LaMarr Hoyt to 60 days. Hoyt had been penalized for his involvement in three illegal drug incidents during 1986.

Nicolau decided to reinstate Steve Howe in November 1992, overturning a lifetime ban imposed by Commissioner Fay Vincent the previous June. The pitcher was suspended seven times for infractions related to drug or alcohol use. Nicolau determined Howe had a psychiatric disorder and the commissioner's office didn't adequately test him.

In a case with impact for many players, he ruled in 1986 against pitcher Dennis Lamp's grievance that Toronto held him out of games so he could not accumulate bonuses hinged to his games played.

"George Nicolau was an outstanding professional, a true giant among labor arbitrators," said Commissioner Rob Manfred, who often appeared before Nicolau as a management lawyer. "He deftly handled many difficult cases in baseball and always had the respect of both parties."

Nicolau also...

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