Baseball: Former commissioner Kuhn laid to rest

Bowie Kuhn was remembered Tuesday in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., as a fierce and passionate advocate for baseball, dedicated to charitable work and now secure in the “big Hall of Fame.”

Among the 300 mourners at Our Lady Star of the Sea were current commissioner Bud Selig, former American League president Lee MacPhail and former National League president Len Coleman.

Kuhn, who died Thursday at age 80, was commissioner from 1969-84, a time of upheaval in baseball.

“I think it is a crying shame that Bowie is not in the Hall of Fame. But he’s in the big Hall of Fame,” said former Detroit Tigers owner Tom Monaghan, who gave one of the two eulogies.

Clearing the bases

Andy Pettitte is expected to miss his scheduled start for the New York Yankees on Friday because of back spasms. … Right-hander Pedro Astacio agreed to a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals. … Manager Grady Little’s 2008 option was exercised by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who added a 2009 team option to his deal. … Adam Miller, who didn’t allow a run in 14 innings over three spring-training starts, was reassigned to minor league camp by the Cleveland Indians. … Ann E. Ladd, once charged with stalking announcer Bob Uecker, was asked to leave a Milwaukee Brewers’ spring training game. Uecker, who was not announcing the game, has a restraining order against Ladd.