NOTEBOOK From PNC Park

Newspaper sells stake: The owners of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette have sold off the $2 million share of the Pirates they purchased when the ballclub's future was in doubt following the 1995 season. Block Communications Inc. sold its interest to the partnership that owns the team. Terms were not disclosed. "We invested in the Pirates at a critical time to demonstrate our commitment to the community and its vital institutions," said William Block Jr., chairman of Block Communications, in a statement. "We accomplished our mission in keeping the Pirates in Pittsburgh. The time has come to withdraw from ownership."
-- Associated Press