AL East - Harper Files Discrimination Charges vs. Red Sox
Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2007 10:02 pm[i:9d2648b9ba]originally printed: The Sporting News, February 10, 1986[/i:9d2648b9ba]
Discrimination charges against the Boston Red Sox were filed January 30 by Tommy Harper, who claimed he was fired for speaking out against the club's policy of distributing passes to a whites-only club during spring training.
A former player and coach, Harper received notice in December he would not be rehired in 1986.
Harper's allegations stem from the team's allocation of passes to an Elks Club in Winter Haven, Fla., the Red Sox's spring training headquarters. The passes are given regularly to white players, coaches and reporters.
During spring training in 1984, Harper approached Red Sox officials and suggested the policy was "wrong and had to stop." When it continued last year, Harper spoke out against the program in the newspapers.
"I want to retain my integrity and end all the whispering and all the different reasons the Red Sox gave for my firing," Harper said at a news conference after he filed charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee.
* * * * *
Pitcher Al Nipper, one of nine players who filed for arbitration, and outfielder John Christensen both signed one-year contracts. . . . . Red Sox management was privately concerned about Jim Rice's left knee. The outfielder was hitting on a daily basis, but hadn't been able to run. Rice's availability for the start of the season was uncertain.
Discrimination charges against the Boston Red Sox were filed January 30 by Tommy Harper, who claimed he was fired for speaking out against the club's policy of distributing passes to a whites-only club during spring training.
A former player and coach, Harper received notice in December he would not be rehired in 1986.
Harper's allegations stem from the team's allocation of passes to an Elks Club in Winter Haven, Fla., the Red Sox's spring training headquarters. The passes are given regularly to white players, coaches and reporters.
During spring training in 1984, Harper approached Red Sox officials and suggested the policy was "wrong and had to stop." When it continued last year, Harper spoke out against the program in the newspapers.
"I want to retain my integrity and end all the whispering and all the different reasons the Red Sox gave for my firing," Harper said at a news conference after he filed charges with the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee.
* * * * *
Pitcher Al Nipper, one of nine players who filed for arbitration, and outfielder John Christensen both signed one-year contracts. . . . . Red Sox management was privately concerned about Jim Rice's left knee. The outfielder was hitting on a daily basis, but hadn't been able to run. Rice's availability for the start of the season was uncertain.