Tampering Ted

Ted Turner

Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner receives a one-year suspension 47 years ago today from commissioner Bowie Kuhn after Bowie determines that Turner tampers with pending free agent Gary Matthews while the outfielder still technically is a member of the San Francisco Giants.

Seems Turner is caught telling Giants owner Bob Lurie during the 1976 World Series that he plans to sign Lurie’s hard-hitting left fielder for the Braves.

Only problem is that Turner – like every other owner in baseball in 1976 – is not yet permitted to recruit specific free agents.

At least not until after the World Series.

So, four weeks after the Cincinnati Reds sweep the New York Yankees to end the ’76 World Series, Turner signs Matthews to a five-year contract worth $240,000 per season.

All is well with Turner until 45 days later – when on Jan. 2, 1977 – Kuhn tells Turner what he did before signing Matthews is bad, wrong and, well, don’t it again.

And, what that, Kuhn suspends Turner for a year and fines him $10,000, which is little more than chewing gum money for a billionaire businessman like Turner

Turner, pleading ignorance, protests Kuhn’s decision.

“I am a rookie in this business,” Turner says at the time. “I should be allowed a few errors.”