Mets clubhouse manager admits to baseball bet

NEW YORK -- New York Mets clubhouse manager Charlie Samuels admitted betting on baseball, according to a person familiar with the investigation.

Samuels made the admission to an investigator for Major League Baseball in the last few weeks, the person said Friday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.

"He admitted betting on baseball on at least one occasion," the person said.

Samuels' bet on baseball first was reported by the New York Daily News.

MLB believes most of Samuels' alleged gambling involved NFL games, the person said.

The team said Thursday that Samuels had been suspended but did not say why. The person said Samuels had become involved in an investigation into illegal gambling by the Queens District Attorney and the New York Police Department.

A second person, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said Friday that law enforcement is investigating the possibility that Samuels borrowed money from team accounts for short periods of time without authorization and then paid the money back.

Samuels was hired by the Mets in 1976 and last month completed his 27th season as clubhouse manager. He also has been involved in the team's travel arrangements for many years.