Dale Petroskey
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Dale Petroskey is the President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. He became Hall President in 1999. He graduated from Michigan State University in 1978, and worked in the White House from 1985-1987 under then-United States President Ronald Reagan.[1]
In April 2003, one month after the start of the Iraq War, Hall of Fame President Dale Petroskey caused a furor when he canceled an event meant to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the well-known 1988 baseball movie Bull Durham because of the anti-war stance of two of its stars, Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon, fearing that they would use the event as a platform for their political views. [2]
Petroskey, a former assistant press secretary in the Reagan administration, sent Robbins and Sarandon a letter that said: "We believe your very public criticism of President Bush at this important - and sensitive - time in our nation's history helps undermine the U.S. position, which ultimately could put our troops in even more danger." Robbins responded: "Long live democracy, free speech and the '69 Mets - all improbable, glorious miracles that I have always believed in."
Many people, including well-known baseball figures like authors Roger Kahn and Jules Tygiel, were upset by what they saw as an attempt to punish political speech. Kahn canceled an appearance at the Hall and Tygiel called for Petroskey's resignation. Former Hall employee Eric Enders wrote a scathing article for a baseball research publication in which he wrote, "Petroskey has worked diligently—and, until now, quietly—to align the Hall politically with the Republican party."
Bull Durham co-star Kevin Costner defended Robbins and Sarandon, saying, "I think Tim and Susan's courage is the type of courage that makes our democracy work... Pulling back this invite is against the whole principle about what we fight for and profess to be about."
[edit] References
- ^ Dale Petroskey Bio. Baseballhalloffame.org. Retrieved on 2006-12-28.
- ^ The Associated Press, April 19, 2003, "Hall president apologizes for not calling actors before canceling event"
