Rays/MLB

AL: Player glad to be rid of World Series ball

By Wire services
Published April 26, 2006

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Now that the ball he caught for the final out in Boston's World Series sweep of St. Louis is headed for the Hall of Fame, Doug Mientkiewicz says he can find some peace of mind.

"Me, my family, went through hell and back. It should have been handled differently," he said Tuesday. "I'm glad it's over. I can put my (World Series) ring back on with pride now."

Mientkiewicz loaned the ball to the Red Sox for a year, but the team took him to court in November to get permanent ownership. The sides then agreed to arbitration and settled the matter.

"As important as that ball was, it was not worth what my family had to go through," said Mientkiewicz, who signed with the Royals. "The worst for me was being sandwiched on the CNN ticker between the tsunami victims and the Laci Peterson murder trial. I thought that was kind of ridiculous, over a baseball."

Mientkiewicz was playing first base Oct. 27, 2004, when pitcher Keith Foulke fielded the ball off the bat of Edgar Renteria and tossed it to him for the final out in Boston's first World Series title since 1918. Mientkiewicz claimed the ball as his own and secured it in a safe deposit box. He joked at one time it was his "retirement fund."

MINOR-LEAGUER SUSPENDED: Blue Jays pitching prospect Edward Rodriguez of Class-A Lansing was suspended for 50 games after testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance. Rodriguez, 21, is the 10th player suspended this year under the minor-league program. The penalty for an initial positive test was increased this year from 15 games to 50 for players with minor-league contracts.

A'S: Rightfielder Milton Bradley left in the fourth inning against the Rangers after jamming his right knee when he slid back into first on a pickoff attempt.

RANGERS: Former outfielder and fan favorite Rusty Greer signed a personal service agreement with the team. Greer retired because of injuries last year. He will be involved in a range of projects that includes youth camps and clinics, marketing and community events.

[Last modified April 26, 2006, 01:37:26]