Ballgate heading to arbitration

12/16/2005
NEW YORK -- Ballgate is going to arbitration.
The Major League Baseball Players Association issued a statement Friday which said the MLBPA, Doug Mientkiewicz, the Boston Red Sox and the Commissioner's Office have agreed to submit to arbitration the Red Sox's claims regarding ownership of the baseball used to record the final out of the 2004 World Series.
The Red Sox have agreed to dismiss a lawsuit filed against Mientkiewicz in a Massachusetts state court. Instead, the club and the Commissioner's Office will file a Notice of Grievance asking Major League Baseball's Arbitration Panel to determine ownership of the ball.
Mientkiewicz has agreed to waive a previously agreed-upon entitlement to return of the ball by Jan. 1, 2006, so that the Red Sox can continue to exhibit the ball while the grievance is processed under the Basic Agreement.
"The Players Association strongly believed that this dispute belonged in the grievance procedure. It appreciates Doug's help in protecting the integrity and reach of the Basic Agreement to the benefit of all players," said Michael Weiner, the association's general counsel.
The MLBPA statement added that "consistent with the Basic Agreement, the parties will meet regarding the matter, probably in January, to begin processing the grievance, which will include discussions about possible resolution of the matter. No date for hearing before the Arbitration Panel has been set."
Last Jan. 27, the Red Sox and Mientkiewicz, who played the 2005 season for the Mets, came to a tentative agreement. Mientkiewicz allowed the Red Sox to maintain possession of the ball for a year, and the club had it on display during its World Series trophy tour.
At that time, Red Sox president/CEO Larry Lucchino said that the sides "agreed to defer the issue of ultimate ownership of the ball for the time being."

Source: http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/