Reggie Jackson Baseball Hall of Famer talked with Minnesota Twins owners

Hall of Famer and part-time Las Vegas resident Reggie Jackson spoke with the owners of the Minnesota Twins last month about the possibility of buying the club.

However, Jackson downplayed the idea he would automatically move the Twins, who have been frustrated in their efforts to build a new stadium, to Las Vegas.

"You can't move a team without baseball's permission," Jackson told the Minneapolis Star Tribune on Friday. "Baseball moves teams, not owners."

Even so, Jackson's interest in the club figures to heighten speculation about the Twins' future, particularly as it relates to Las Vegas.

Jackson heads a potential ownership group that includes a Las Vegan as well as investors from four other states.

Much would have to occur before the Twins set up shop in Las Vegas, however, and one local sports marketing industry source was skeptical it would get done.

"The question is who pays for (a stadium)," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "You have to keep asking the mayor, and you have to keep asking the owner. It's an issue they'll skirt and say, 'We'll work it out; we'll work it out.' "

Las Vegas 51s president Don Logan said any major league club that wanted to move to the valley would need to go through his Triple-A franchise.

The 51s hold the territorial rights, and a major league team would need to purchase those before moving to the area.

"The owner of the team is the key player in any relocation," Logan said. "The protocol is to work through the existing team.

"Hopefully, I'm assuming that's our position. We would have to wait until we've been contacted and deal with it at that point."

Jackson has long wanted to get into baseball ownership, and he met with Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman in December to discuss the issue.

"Mr. Jackson has a real drive to bring baseball to Las Vegas," Goodman said then.

An attempt to reach Goodman on Friday was unsuccessful.

Jackson told the Star Tribune that approaching the Twins was the fifth time he has tried to get into ownership.

"I know (the Twins have) got some issues with stadiums et cetera," Jackson said. "I've heard the (Pohlad) family might consider selling the team, and I wanted to be on the first to inquire.

"The Minnesota Twins handled it just how I thought they would handle it," Jackson added. "They were first class all the way. They told me their plate was full, and that they would certainly listen to what I had to say."

Twins president Dave St. Peter told the newspaper, "It has been expressed to (Jackson) that at the present time, the ballclub is not for sale. Moreover, 100 percent of our efforts are being directed toward finding a viable long- term ballpark solution here in Minnesota.

"We're still hoping Gov. (Tim) Pawlenty will see fit to call a special session, and we'll be able to move forward and build a ballpark and keep the Twins competitive and viable for the next 30 or 40 years here in Minnesota."

A deal appeared to be in place this year for a new stadium. The issue was never addressed, however, even though a 51-day special legislative session was called.

Twins owners are hopeful another special session soon will be called, but there have been indications it probably won't happen.

"I do know that the Twins are very frustrated about not getting legislative support for a stadium, given that the current proposal requires nothing from the State, and had hoped that the Governor would call a Special Session this fall," baseball's chief operating officer, Bob DuPuy, said via e-mail. "However, the Twins have not asked for nor have they been given permission to explore alternative locations."

Jackson played baseball for 21 seasons, hit 563 home runs and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1993.