ST. PAUL, May 20, 1998 -- The Minnesota Twins and major league baseball asked the Minnesota Court of Appeals on Wednesday to halt an antitrust investigation by Attorney General Hubert Humphrey III.

Baseball officials want the court to review an order by Ramsey County District Judge Margaret Marrinan compelling them to turn over documents regarding league operations going back to 1992.

Humphrey is investigating whether baseball owners illegally conspired to get public stadium subsidies by controlling franchise movement.

The league says a federal exemption from antitrust laws protects baseball from state antitrust lawsuits.

"At a minimum the cloud of an expensive, distracting, and time-consuming investigation will discourage any local buyer from entering the fray by bidding on the Twins," states the request for review.