In 10 days, the National Baseball Hall of Fame will take its first step toward a permanent replacement for former president Dale Petroskey, Chairwoman Jane Forbes Clark said Thursday.
Petroskey, 52, resigned Tuesday after nearly nine years at the Hall.
"The process (for finding a new president) is not in place at the moment," Clark said. "Ten days from now, the board will meet and decide whether to find a replacement ourselves or hire a search firm."
Clark said once that process starts, she doesn't think it will take long to find a president for the shrine in Cooperstown. She also chairs the five-member Executive Committee that came to a mutual agreement with Petroskey on his resignation.
Clark has been a board member at the Hall since 1992 and became chairwoman in 2000. She also serves as the chairwoman of The Farmers' Museum; the president of The Clark Foundation, The Scriven Foundation and the Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home; and as a trustee at Bassett Healthcare.
She said the decision on Petroskey's departure was far from easy.
"I was in the process from the beginning," Clark said. "It was a difficult time. It was a sensitive issue and one we spent a lot of time on. It was an emotional time for the Executive Committee the last couple of weeks. We took it seriously."
On Wednesday, Executive Committee member Edward Stack said Petroskey's management style didn't sit well with the committee.
Clark said the fact the Hall lost $1.31 million in 2004 and $1.93 million in 2006 was "part of (the reason Petroskey's no longer at the Hall)," but she didn't elaborate on other reasons.
In a media release issued by the Hall on Tuesday, the Executive Committee's reason for accepting Petroskey's resignation
See HALL on Page 2
read: "Dale Petroskey failed to exercise proper fiduciary responsibility, and it follows other business judgments that were
See CLARK on Page 2
not in the best interest of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum."
Petroskey did not return a phone message left at his home Thursday night. The voice mailbox on his cell phone was full.
The Hall named Jeff Idelson, 43, as acting president Tuesday. Clark said the Hall would consider Idelson as a permanent replacement if he wants the job.
"All of this is so fresh that right now I'm just focused on the task at hand," said Idelson, who continues to serve as the Hall's vice president for communications and education. "I really haven't had time to really think about it. I'm flattered and I'm a team player. At some time, I would have to consider it, and I'd be happy to be considered for it."
Despite losing money in 2004 and 2006, Clark said, the Hall is in great shape financially.
She said 2007 was an excellent year for the Hall, in part because of the Induction Ceremony of Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn this past July. They drew an estimated 75,000 fans to the Clark Sports Center on Induction Day, eclipsing the previous record of 50,000 set in 1999, when Nolan Ryan, George Brett, Robin Yount and Orlando Cepeda were enshrined.
Clark also said major renovations at the Hall that started about a year ago are nearly complete.
"It's not just a feeling," she said. "I know we're in great shape."
The Daily Star reported in Thursday's edition that Clark did not return a phone message left Wednesday. Clark said Thursday that she did not get the message because it was left at her Florida residence.
___
Rob Centorani can be reached at rcentorani@thedailystar.com or 432-1000, ext. 209.
Print this story
E-mail this story
