Dodger Sale

Re “The Ultimate Public Franchise,” Opinion, Jan. 19: Though I agree with James Merlino in theory that a municipal corporation should tender an offer to buy the Dodgers, a significant hurdle will have to be overcome even if the city’s bid is the highest the O’Malley family receives; public ownership of a baseball franchise is illegal under the league’s bylaws, absent a waiver from a majority of the other owners. And that is a highly unlikely event.

Ultimately, then, it will be up to Peter O’Malley--a man not known for taking on the baseball establishment--to challenge the league rules barring public ownership in court as a violation of his right to enter into a contract of his choosing. I hope he does just that.

ROY ULRICH