Hall's Petroskey Throws Wild Pitch

The Hartford Courant ^ | 4/15/03

[I_Love_My_Husband]

Hall's Petroskey Throws Wild Pitch April 15, 2003

NEW YORK -- The tables turned on National Baseball Hall of Fame president Dale Petroskey Monday. He had been scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Mets-Expos game at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, but officials in Puerto Rico, after consulting with Major League Baseball, decided the timing was not right.

It wasn't a case of an invitation being rescinded as Petroskey did last week, canceling a ceremony in Cooperstown to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the baseball movie, "Bull Durham," because of the anti-war stance of the film's co-stars, Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon. But it was similar.

That all parties agreed not to have Petroskey take part in the ceremony was the latest fallout from an episode that has heaved a barrage of negative attention on baseball's hallowed museum.

[Reagan Man]

>>>A poll conducted by New York's WNBC was 68 percent in favor of the Hall's stand. Another poll by the Palm Beach Post reported 90 percent support of the decision.

Petroskey was correct in his executive decision. The San Juan decision was nothing but sour grapes.

As for Bull Durham, a "B" movie at best. Not representative of baseball at its best.

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[nickcarraway]

Is this the Baseball Hall of Fame, or the Baseball Movie Hall of Fame? If it's the former, why do they need any movies?

[freebilly]

Author Roger Kahn wrote the Hall last week and canceled an August speaking appearance at Cooperstown.

The Hall official said that Kahn has since changed his mind and needs the engagement to help promote his book, "October Men," about the 1978 Yankees. "He's trying to find a way to save face," the official said.

What's the matter Roger? Did your mouth write a check that your butt couldn't cash?

[onedoug]

These are all free speech issues, although Petroskey has the stronger moral case.

[dts32041]

He can always go on booknotes.

[americafirst]

I have yet to see a single article, or hear a single sportswriter, agree with Petroskey. That's why I know he was right.

[George W. Bush]

I'm waiting to see if FNC's Kilmeade will weigh in on this one.

[TomB]

These are all free speech issues, although Petroskey has the stronger moral case.

Seeing as how the government is not involved, what do you mean by "free speech"?

[PBRSTREETGANG]

These are all free speech issues,...

No, these are invitation issues.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

I never read sports pages. The sports journalists are lefties too? Sad....

[onedoug]

All the parties involved have a right to say, and do, within their degrees of influence, whatever they want.

[1Old Pro]

I support the Hall of Fame decision. I'll bet he doesn't go to the press club to whine about the anti-Americans who won't let him throw out the first pitch.

[TomB]

All the parties involved have a right to say, and do, within their degrees of influence, whatever they want.

But Robbins and Sarandon had no right to say it at the Baseball Hall of Fame, just the same as nobody has a "right" to say anything they want on Free Rebublic. The First Amendment doesn't apply to private property.

[onedoug]

That's true. But it doesn't alter, and instead rather seems to support my point at #6.

[TomB]

That's true. But it doesn't alter, and instead rather seems to support my point at #6.

Could you explain how?

The Hall is a private institution, so the "right to free speech" does not apply to this case.