Davis Signs, Eats Crow

Less than 24 hours after accusing the California Angels of racism, designated hitter Chili Davis reached agreement with the club on the $11.4 million, three-year deal he sought, and apologized for his comments.

Both Davis and Angel officials denied that his remarks to a reporter on Wednesday hastened the agreement.

“I think it’s been used against me at some point,” Davis was quoted as saying in Thursday’s editions of the Thomson L.A. News Group, referring to the fact that he’s black.

“They’ve taken care of all the white players in this organization, they always have.”

Davis, at a hastily called press conference at Anaheim Stadium before California’s game against Oakland, said his earlier comments grew out of frustration rather than any reality of racism by the team.

“It wasn’t directed as a fact. I was merely stating that I was wondering if that was an issue,” Davis said. “No one likes to apologize. This is not an up time for the game with the strike and everything, and that really didn’t help at all.”

The Atlanta Braves are temporarily halving the price of their cheapest seats, from $5 each to $2.50.

Sensing his heart “just wasn’t in the game,” Oakland A’s backup catcher Brian Harper abruptly retired. Oakland immediately called up Eric Helfand from Triple-A Edmonton.

Right-hander Dave Graybill is leaving the Seattle Mariners’ AAA club in Tacoma to return to his job as a firefighter with the Glendale, Ariz., fire department.