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Full disclosure Judge rules owners must disclose contraction documentsPosted: Saturday January 19, 2002 1:45 PMUpdated: Sunday January 20, 2002 4:17 PM
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A judge ruled baseball owners must disclose documents on discussions about contraction, including information about loans between Twins owner Carl Pohlad and commissioner Bud Selig. Hennepin County Judge Harry Crump issued his order Friday in response to a request by the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission for information on contraction. The ruling comes in the aftermath of disclosures this month about four loans between baseball teams and owners, including a $3 million loan from a Pohlad family company to the Milwaukee Brewers. Selig was the interim commissioner and Brewers' CEO at the time of the 1995 loan.
That loan has brought accusations that Selig's plan to eliminate two teams in 2002 -- the Twins and the Montreal Expos are considered the most likely candidates -- represents a conflict of interest. He has denied any conflict. Crump rejected the arguments of a lawyer for baseball owners that he should wait until the Minnesota Court of Appeals rules on other aspects of the case. "We think it's very positive for fans of the Minnesota Twins and the people of the state of Minnesota," said Bill Lester, executive director of the Sports Commission, which operates the Metrodome. This is the second major ruling by Crump concerning the Twins' fate. On Nov. 16 he issued a temporary injunction, sought by the commission, ordering the Twins to play their 2002 season at the Dome and barring owners from disbanding the team. The owners appealed and an Appeals Court panel heard the case Dec. 27. It has not announced a decision.
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