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The American League would like to go to three-divisional...

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. -- The American League would like to go to three-divisional play, possibly by 1983, but baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn is against it unless the National League adopts the plan.

In an informal poll of league owners at their annual meeting Thursday, they voted 10-4 in favor of going to three divisions.

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League president Lee MacPhail said if the league wished to implement three-divisional play by 1983 they would have to have an official vote at next summer's meeting of league owners. It takes only 10 votes in the AL to get something passed.

The National League is against three-divisional play. It was discussed at their meeting Thursday, too, but no vote was taken. Under NL rules, however, it takes a unanimous vote to get something passed. It is known that there is more than one dissenting vote.

Kuhn, however, wants to maintain continuity between the leagues.

'I think I would take a stance to prevent three American League and two National League divisions,' said Kuhn. 'The idea of them doing it differently doesnt appeal to me very much.

'I could force the National League to go to three divisions. That would be exercising my powers. I have exercised those powers before. It happened that year when I made them go to spring training but that is very unlikely and unusual.'

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The AL did vote on reducing September rosters from 40 players to 28. The Players Association must approve the move and MacPhail said there could be some opposition from the Players Association since the reduction would affect some veteran players.

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