After the 1968 season, Valentine and Salerno filed a $4 million lawsuit against the American League and Major League Baseball, alleging federal antitrust violations and defamation of character. In addition, the newly formed Major League Umpires Association filed an unfair-labor-practice claim with the National Labor Relations Board. However, Valentine and Salerno lost both cases. In 1970, as a settlement, the American League offered the umpires full reinstatement, back pay, and $20,000 in salary, but Salerno refused the deal because of a provision that stated that the umpires would have to spend time in the minor leagues to improve their skills.
