A's co-owner has grown tired of the daily business of baseball, according to his partner

By Rick Hurd
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

OAKLAND - Steve Schott wanted to set the record straight on one subject Thursday. He has no interest in selling his team, and he's willing to hold onto it through its search for a new baseball-only ballpark.

His partner, however, might not feel the same way.

Schott said Thursday that his fellow A's co-owner Ken Hofmann has dropped hints that he eventually would like to sell his interest in the team. And, Schott said, that development could happen sooner rather than later.

"He has made overtures that he'd like to get out if he can," Schott said at a luncheon gathering of Bay Area media. "He might change his mind, but at this time it seems like it could be in his best interests."

Hofmann is 80 years old and, Schott said, is seeking to get his estate settled. Schott emphasized that Hofmann remains in good health, but that he has grown tired of the daily business of baseball. Hofmann, a Bay Area developer, bought the team with Schott from the Walter Haas family on Nov. 1, 1995.

"I don't think he wants to stay on for the everyday decisions that are made in baseball," Schott said.

Hofmann was on a fishing trip Thursday, according to his wife, making attempts to reach him unsuccessful.

Schott did not discuss how such a decision would impact his own ownership, other than to emphasize that he is not actively seeking a buyer. But he also said he would not rule out that a sale someday could take place.

"If the team is worth, what $160 million, and somebody offers a lot more, of course you'd listen," he said. "Yeah, that's possible. It's always possible. But the team is not for sale."

Schott said he did nothing more than listen when he was approached earlier this season by Washington, D.C., businessman Jonathan Ladecky. The Washington Post reported two weeks ago that Schott was ready to sell the team to Ladecky, who then would move it to Washington, D.C.

"He was just somebody (commissioner Bud Selig) wanted us to talk to," Schott said. "But it came down to we just didn't want to sell. He was supposed to be a tycoon, but he didn't have nearly enough money."

Thus, Schott said his lone focus is to secure a new ballpark for the A's in Oakland or Alameda County. He also said he still is "cautiously optimistic" that a park eventually will be built.

"If you're not optimistic, you might as well not be involved," he said. "It's like when we bought this club, and we had to rebuild. I had to be propped up a lot during those times. Some people will probably have to prop me up during this process, but hopefully we'll eventually get it done."

NOTE: Schott said he didn't have a gut feeling about what might happen when the executive board of the players association holds a conference call today. But he did say that it might not be the worst thing if the players, as expected, decide to set a strike date. The players postponed such a decision at their executive board meeting in Chicago on Monday. Reports say Aug. 30 is the most likely date. "I don't want it to happen, but it's like anything. Sometimes, you have to have a deadline, a time and a date to get things done. Maybe that can convince wiser heads to prevail."

A man has to have goals- for a day, for a lifetime- that was mine, to have people say, "There goes Ted Williams, the greatest hitter who ever lived."
- Ted Williams