Owners Want Vincent Out : Baseball: Resolution passes by 18-9-1 vote. Commissioner reiterates that he will not resign and threatens court action.

ROSEMONT, Ill. —  Eighteen of the 28 major league baseball owners--including Peter O’Malley of the Dodgers and Gene and Jackie Autry of the Angels--voted here Thursday in favor of a resolution requesting Commissioner Fay Vincent to resign immediately.

But the owners may have to fire Vincent instead and face the threat of a lawsuit.

Vincent, who did not attend what he said was an illegal meeting under terms of the Major League Agreement, said in a statement from New York that he would not resign because of the potential harm that might do to the office.

“Of course, it is disappointing that a significant number of owners has expressed a lack of confidence and asked for my resignation,” he said.

“I appreciate the confidence of those who supported me. In my letter of Aug. 20, I informed the owners I would not resign. I affirm that today. I believe strongly that the commissioner should serve a full term as contemplated by the Major League Agreement.

“Only then can difficult decisions be made impartially and without fear of political repercussion. Baseball deserves a cooperative and constructive effort by all of us.”

Said Jerry Reinsdorf, Chicago White Sox co-owner and a leader of the anti-Vincent faction, “If he does not step down, today’s meeting will be reconvened Wednesday in St. Louis to discuss the fact that he didn’t step down.”

Could the owners vote to fire Vincent at that regularly scheduled meeting?

“We didn’t discuss that today, but I see no grounds for compromise,” Reinsdorf said, adding that Vincent, who plans to attend next week’s quarterly meetings, will not to be permitted to preside over a resumption of Thursday’s meeting.

The seeds of a major confrontation have been sown.

The Major League Agreement, baseball’s constitution, states that a commissioner cannot be fired during his term, nor his powers diminished. Vincent has hired Washington attorney Brendan Sullivan Jr., who represented Oliver North in the Iran-Contra case, to take “any inappropriate action” by the owners “to the highest court in the land.”

Said owner Bill Giles of the Philadelphia Phillies, a member of the anti-Vincent group: “Do we have the heart to take on a legal fight? I’m afraid that we may have to decide that.”

George W. Bush, managing partner of the Texas Rangers and one of Vincent’s supporters, agreed with Giles on that issue, saying that Thursday’s vote on the resolution was irrelevant because the commissioner had hired a tough litigator who could put the issue in court through the end of Vincent’s term, “should he choose.”

Bush described Vincent as a man of integrity and said: “If we’re going to redefine the commissioner’s role, let’s get on with it, but let’s not do it on his grave.”

However, in opposing the resolution, Bush had only the support of the New York Mets, Montreal Expos, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Oakland Athletics, Houston Astros, Florida Marlins and, it is believed, either the Kansas City Royals or Detroit Tigers.

Owner Marge Schott of the Cincinnati Reds left the four-hour meeting early and abstained from the secret-ballot vote.

The remaining 18 clubs supported the resolution that said the owners no longer had confidence in Vincent’s ability to carry out the responsibilities of his office, and that “under his direction it is impossible for baseball to move forward effectively and constructively.”

It cited critical issues, such as franchise stability, TV and broadcast contracts, labor negotiations and action on the forthcoming report of the economic study committee, and said baseball needed a strong leader who can build a consensus on the fundamental issues, display vision and objectivity and “manage relationships with outside parties important” to the industry’s success.

The resolution said that those voting in favor of it would not vote in favor of his reelection when his term expired in March of 1994 but that he be offered a severance agreement if he resigns immediately.

It also called for the Executive Council to form a committee by next week to examine the commissioner’s office and make recommendations on its possible restructuring by Nov. 1.

The apparent plan is to create a corporation-type structure in which a chief executive officer would replace the commissioner and be limited in his ability to act arbitrarily in the “best interest of baseball.”

“Obviously, we’re frustrated with the situation as it stands now,” Reinsdorf said. “What we have simply is not working. We’re headed for disaster, and we have to do something other than find another individual and put him in the same box.”

That, of course, is down the line. Is he hopeful that Vincent will resign and avoid a possible legal skirmish?

“If I’m the commissioner or the CEO of a corporation and two-thirds of the people I was serving didn’t want me to serve, I’d say, ‘A pox on you,’ and move on to another job,” Reinsdorf said.

Can Vincent operate effectively if he tries to stay?

“It would certainly be difficult if 18 clubs are asking you to resign,” said Joseph Molloy, managing partner of the New York Yankees and owner George Steinbrenner’s son-in-law. “The industry is paralyzed. We need to move on. The hope is that Fay recognizes that.”

Thursday’s meeting, by all accounts, was professional and, according to Jackie Autry, devoid of fireworks.

She said there was discussion of Vincent’s responsibilities, admission that the owners had contributed to some problems and “obvious concern about the commissioner’s leadership.” She said the industry faced financial ruin unless it was restructured under a new leader with a new economic system.

Said O’Malley: “The resolution says a lot. I have nothing further to add.”