Joan Kroc, owner of the San Diego...

Joan Kroc, owner of the San Diego Padres, refused to sell the team to Seattle Mariner owner George Argyros because he balked at a written agreement to keep the Padres in San Diego until at least the year 2000, according to a report in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. A deal to sell the Padres to Argyros fell through May 26.

Baseball sources said that Argyros balked at the demand for a written guarantee because he believed a written promise would limit his bargaining power next year when the Padres’ stadium lease with the city of San Diego expires.