ST. PAUL, June 05, 1998 -- The Minnesota Court of Appeals refused to block an antitrust investigation of major league baseball by the attorney general's office, saying it would be premature to intervene in the stadium-linked dispute.

A three-judge panel, in a ruling filed Wednesday, rejected a request filed by the Twins and baseball to block a lower-court order that they turn over documents regarding league operations going back to 1992.

Attorney General Hubert Humphrey III is investigating whether baseball owners conspired to get publicly funded stadiums by controlling franchise movement.

The league says a federal exemption from antitrust laws protects baseball from state antitrust lawsuits. But the appellate panel said allowing the investigation to continue doesn't prevent that or any other defense if the investigation leads to prosecution.