Baseball

Hall chief denies political bias

NEW YORK -- The Hall of Fame president insisted Friday he was not politically motivated when he canceled a Bull Durham celebration because of antiwar criticism by co-stars Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon, and he said he had only one regret.

"I wish that the reasoning had been better articulated so it could have been better understood," Dale Petroskey, a former official in the Reagan administration, said from his office at Cooperstown, N.Y.

"What we were trying to do was take politics out of this," he said. "We didn't want people to espouse their views in a very public place, one way or another. The Hall isn't the place for that."

The Hall's stance resulted in another cancellation. Roger Kahn, whose Boys of Summer is considered among the best baseball books, called off his August appearance to speak at the Hall in protest.

Petroskey sent a letter to Robbins and Sarandon this week, telling them the 15th anniversary festivities for Bull Durham set for April 26-27 were off.

Recent comments by the actors "ultimately could put our troops in even more danger," said Petroskey, a former White House assistant press secretary.

Petroskey said he was surprised his political background had been brought to the forefront.

"I spent two years in the Reagan White House nearly 20 years ago, and I never served former President Bush or the current President Bush," he said. "Nobody mentions the 11 years I worked at National Geographic. I find it interesting that people seize upon something from my career nearly 20 years ago and that it slants the issue."

WELLS PONDERED QUITTING: Yankees left-hander David Wells reopened the controversy surrounding his autobiography by revealing in a radio interview that he offered to quit in spring training and had to be talked out of it by manager Joe Torre.

"(The book) bothered Mr. (George) Steinbrenner and the Yankees," Wells told ESPN Radio's Michael Kay. "My intention was not to cause those kind of problems. (I thought) maybe I should just walk away and say, 'See you later,' and go out on a sour note. After I went home and sat on it, I didn't think that was what I should do."

In team news, Yankees closer Mariano Rivera plans to throw in the bullpen today as he works his way back from a groin strain. ... The team paid the government $75,000 to settle a dispute that it conducted business in Cuba in violation of a long-standing U.S. embargo.

NATION LOSES MEDAL: Panama was stripped of its bronze medal and seven players were suspended for two years for doping violations at November's Intercontinental Cup.

EX-PITCHER ON TRIAL: Dennis Ribant pleaded innocent in Newport Beach, Calif., to one count of bribery and two felony counts of state income tax evasion for filing false income tax returns.

BRAVES: Right-hander Shane Reynolds, who signed a one-year contract Thursday, joined the team and is scheduled to start Tuesday against Montreal in Puerto Rico. ... Left-hander Mike Hampton (strained right calf) is scheduled to make a minor-league rehabilitation start Monday.

D'BACKS: Right-hander John Patterson was recalled from Triple A and named the No. 5 starter.

EXPOS: Right-hander Orlando Hernandez, who has tendinitis in his right shoulder, probably will be sidelined until the middle of May.

PHILLIES: Right-hander Brandon Duckworth pitched 42/3 two-hit innings in likely his last rehabilitation start for Class A Clearwater.

PIRATES: All-Star leftfielder Brian Giles sprained a ligament in his right knee and will be placed on the 15-day disabled list today.

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