Report: Mets made money in Madoff deals

NEW YORK, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Baseball's New York Mets made about $48 million in their financial dealings with convicted money swindler Bernard Madoff, court documents indicate.

The cable sports network ESPN reported U.S. Bankruptcy Court documents filed Friday show Mets owner Fred Wilpon deposited $522.8 million in two accounts with Madoff through the Mets Limited Partnership. The network added court-appointed trustee Irving Picard said Wilpon later withdrew $570.6 million.

The New York Daily News reported that means the club could wind up on the hook for the money since Picard has sued others who made the biggest gains from Madoff's ponzi scheme in which money from new investors was paid to earlier investors. The owners of the Mets have not been sued, the Daily News said.

Wilpon bought a stake in the Mets in 1980, and in 2002 with his family and others, purchased the rest of the franchise.

The total value of the National League franchise was not disclosed.

The Mets moved into their new stadium, Citi Field, this year.

U.S. Bankruptcy Court documents show Bernie Madoff may have made money for New York Mets