Baseball Barred From Eliminating Twins, Who Must Play 2002 in Metrodome

AP ^ | 11/16/01 | BRIAN BAKST

[coder2]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Baseball was barred from eliminating the Minnesota Twins next season when a judge on Friday ordered the team to play its 2002 home schedule in the Metrodome. Twins owner Carl Pohlad also was ordered not to sell the team unless the new owner agrees to have the team play its 2002 home schedule in the ballpark.

The decision by Hennepin County District Judge Harry Seymour Crump throws into question last week's vote by baseball owners to eliminate two major league teams next season.

While baseball owners didn't formally pick the teams when they met Nov. 6, they made clear the Montreal Expos and the Twins were the likely candidates.

"The welfare, recreation, prestige, prosperity, trade and commerce of the people of the community are at stake," Crump wrote in his four-page decision. "The Twins brought the community together with Homer Hankies and Bobblehead dolls.

"The Twins are one of the few professional sports teams in town where a family can afford to take their children to enjoy a hot dog and peanuts and a stadium. The vital public interest, or trust, of the Twins substantially outweighs any private interest."

Baseball and the Twins will try to overturn the decision in the Minnesota Court of Appeals, but temporary injunctions usually are difficult to remove before a trial.

"Both sides in this controversy have known from the outset that this case would ultimately be decided by Minnesota appellate courts," said Roger Magnuson, the lawyer for the Twins and major league baseball. "We are, of course, disappointed in this decision, but we are confident that we will prevail at the end of the day. ... We have a very strong case and believe that we will be fully vindicated when our appeal is heard."

Spring training starts in just three months, making it unlikely a trial would be over before then.

Hours after baseball owners voted in favor of contraction, the Twins and major league baseball were sued by the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, which operates the Metrodome. The Twins' lease at the ballpark runs through the 2002 season.

Bill Lester, executive director for the Facilities Commission, said Friday's ruling was "tremendous news for people who want baseball to stay in Minnesota."

"It throws a significant log in front of a runaway train," he said. "This will have many more long and torturous turns," he said. "But this is a significant step forward for people who love baseball."

Players' association head Donald Fehr was pleased.

"This decision should provide the sides an opportunity to stop, reflect and consider," he said. "Given the nature of the lease provision, I don't find it a very surprising decision. We'll have to see what major league baseball chooses to do in response to the court order."

Baseball players have filed a grievance to block the teams from folding, claiming contraction violates their labor contract, which expired last week. Arbitrator Shyam Das is to hear that case next month.

"Obviously if the order holds and there is no contraction, then it would moot the case," Fehr said.

Florida, Oakland and Tampa Bay also are candidates to be eliminated, but they have not been mentioned as prominently and the Expos and Twins. The Marlins and Devil Rays may be difficult to get rid of because a 1994 Florida Supreme Court decision ruled baseball's antitrust exemption did not apply to franchise relocation.

Crump, who held a 90-minute hearing Thursday, wrote "there is substantial likelihood that the Commission will prevail on the merits of this case."

"Baseball is as American as turkey and apple pie," he said. "Baseball is a tradition that passes from generation to generation. Baseball crosses social barriers, creates community spirit and is much more than a private enterprise. Baseball is a national pastime.

"Locally, the Twins have been part of Minnesota history and tradition for 40 years. The Twins have given Minnesota two World Series championships, one in 1987 and one in 1991. The Twins have also given Minnesota legends such as Rod Carew, Tony Oliva, Harmon Killebrew, Kent Hrbek and Kirby Puckett, some of which streets are named after. These legends have bettered the community."

Earlier in the day, Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura met in St. Paul with top lawmakers and business leaders and said he will take a more active role in the fight to save the team. Pohlad has been repeatedly stymied by the government in attempts to obtain funding for a new ballpark.

"What I'm going to bring to the forefront is that baseball, before they make rash decisions to eliminate teams, should step back, take a deep breath and take a year and really think about the decisions that they're making and what the repercussions would be," Ventura said.

He said baseball's other small-market teams should beware of contraction plans.

"My message would be that if it could happen to the Minnesota Twins, it could happen to you," he said. "You could be next."

Among those who met with Ventura were lawyers Mike Ciresi and Clark Griffith (the son of former Twins owner Calvin Griffith), publisher Vance Opperman and printing magnate Harvey Mackay, the nucleus of a group forming to bid for the Twins.

"I don't think it's a problem getting the investors," Ciresi said. "The issue is can you get the right type of stadium package that is acceptable to all parties. It needs a lot of effort to get there."

Ventura has long said he doesn't want to put state tax dollars into a sports stadium. And he reiterated that baseball won't right itself in Minnesota with just a new ballpark.

"Baseball has to fix itself," he said, referring to calls for a salary cap and increased revenue sharing.

Editor's Note: Sports Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this story from New York

[coder2]

YIPPEEE !!!!!

[Senator Goldwater]

That leaves only the Montreal Expos on the block. Since they needed a dance partner for contraction and apparently won't have one, they should move forthwith to Washington DC.

[coder2]

Sounds like Washington wants a team, so I really don't see a problem here... Of course, Selig wants the Twins gone for personal reasons. But there will be dancing in Minnesota for this ruling !!!

[Senator Goldwater]

Fred Malek heads up the DC effort, and he was George W. Bush's parner with the Texas Rangers. He's hooked up with Jim Kimsey of AOL, and the group has over three billion to work with. The city has put up eight viable tracts for a ballpark, and they can use RFK in the interim.

Jeff Loria should sell 49% stake to this group, and move them in time for a first pitch by Dubya next April.

The national pastime belongs in the Nation's Capital.

[Rubber Duckie]

"Locally, the Twins have been part of Minnesota history and tradition for 40 years. The Twins have given Minnesota two World Series championships, one in 1987 and one in 1991. The Twins have also given Minnesota legends such as Rod Carew, Tony Oliva, Harmon Killebrew, Kent Hrbek and Kirby Puckett, some of which streets are named after. These legends have bettered the community."

Both were great teams. However, the greatest Twins team ever was the 1965 Twins, who carried the World Series to seven games against one of the greatest teams of all time. Had Cesar Tovar been around for the whole season OR had Rod Carew been a couple years older, even the mighty LA Dodgers (Sandy Koufax's greatest season ever) would've been defeated. The Twins had a major hole at second base that year, but an all-star outfield and pitching staff-- even with Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew injured for a good share of the season.

[bootless]

Thank goodness. It was an idiotic idea to include the Twins on the chopping block. The 'Spos are the dregs of the league, attendance-wise, though. I'm sure there's a city out there somewhere that will welcome them.

I have to admit that when I saw the line about Homer Hankies and Bobblehead dolls, I double-checked to make sure The Onion didn't write it! :-)

I was also shocked to see that the A's were on the short list. Unbelievable.

[drstevej]

Let the Twins play in the Metrodome, just don't schedule any opponents! That should draw huge crowds.

[okie01]

"The national pastime belongs in the Nation's Capital."

No question about it.

And, after this decision, MLB won't be able to give Carl Pohlad big bucks to fold the Twins. So, why not give big bucks to Peter Angelos and move the Expos to DC?

Angelos, the asbestos-rich trial lawyer, will have to be bought off first because he contends that Washington is part of his Baltimore "territory". Accordingly, if he doesn't get his pound of flesh, he will be the one taking MLB to court...

[afuturegovernor]

How can a judge just order the Twins stay in Minnesota? If I was a judge could I get the Diamondbacks to move to Mississippi?

[AmishDude]

Peter Angelos is the problem with a team in DC.

He won't allow them to do it. Of course, I would love having a team competing financially against the most Clinton-loving and most incompetent owner in MLB.

[Osage Orange]

" "The Twins brought the community together with Homer Hankies and Bobblehead dolls. "

Well...heck that settles it.

B>LET UM STAY..!!!

FRegards..to you bootless.

[coder2]

How can a judge just order the Twins stay in Minnesota?

Technically, the judge ordered that the Twins had to honor their contract with the Metrodome and play their 2002 season there. The way I understand it, there is no "buy-out" clause in this contract. The judge did not order the Twins to stay in MN, he ordered them to honor the contract.

[AmishDude]

They signed a lease. 'Course, I don't know why they couldn't just buy out the lease, but I'm sure there's a clause that prevents it.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

So now a judge can order a NOT to go out of business. Perfect.

[Osage Orange]

From the article:

"printing magnate Harvey Mackay"

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IF Harvey "How to Swim with the Sharks Without Being Eaten" Mackay is involved....they won't get snookered by King Karl....

[coder2]

So now a judge can order a NOT to go out of business.

If a business signs a lease or contract with no "buy-out" clause, that business would need to honor the lease or contract. That's all this ruling is. The way I understand the Metrodome lease is that home games have to be played in the stadium, and there is no out written in.

So are you saying that if a business wants to break a lease/contract, they have every right to do so ???

[speedy]

Yeah, there was a hole at second -- I recall Frank Quilici as one of the revolving second sackers, none of them any good. Bob Allison supplied some outfield punch, and Don Mincher, Jimmy Hall, Rich Rollins and Earl Battey could also hit it out. Zoilo Versalles was MVP at SS, admittedly one of the flukier picks for that honor. And of course the two greats, Killebrew and Oliva. And pretty decent pitching with Camillo Pascual, Jim Kaat, Jim Merritt, Mudcat Grant and Dave Boswell. Can't recall the relief pitchers -- could it have been some guy like Jerry Arrigo or Johnny Klippstein? Must have been better than that. And Sam Mele the manager -- remember the Twinkies actually beat Koufax and Drysdale the first two games, then were shut out by Claude Osteen and the Dodgers turned it around.

[patent]

Let the Twins play in the Metrodome, just don't schedule any opponents! That should draw huge crowds.

After Sir Pohlad called the Twins “hopeless” a day or two ago, I doubt they will get huge crowds no matter what happens.

patent  +AMDG

[bootless]

:-) Thanks. Bobbleheads rule. (Even though I don't have one)

FRegards! Only 2½ months till pitchers and catchers report!

[Heyworth]

Okay, but can the League simply remove the Twins from the schedule? "Sure, you've got a team in Minnesota. No one plays 'em, but they're up there." And the judge's reasons--that they've bettered the community and offer a place family's can take their kids--don't really seem like solid legal reasoning. Isn't this in fact the sort of judicial activism of the kind usually decried around here?