ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Feb. 5 (UPI) -- Retired slugger Cecil Fielder told reporters all was not forgiven after his son, Prince, signed a blockbuster contract with the Detroit Tigers.
The 48-year-old Fielder, who himself played for Detroit in the 1990s, said in St. Petersburg, Fla., he had no plans to attend any Tigers games and chided his 27-year-old son for distancing himself from the rest of the family.
"I'm going to take the high road, stay away from it and not cause any friction," the elder Fielder told reporters at his induction into the Ted Williams Hitters Hall of Fame. "If you want to stay stuck whatever cocoon you're in, stay there, but I'm not going to join you."
The Tampa Bay (Fla.) Times said Sunday Fielder expressed disappointment that his estranged son refused to acknowledge people who had helped him over the years.
The Detroit News said Prince Fielder's tepid attitude apparently stems from money. The newspaper reported in 2004 that Prince believed his father gambled away much of the family's nest egg and even skimmed off part of Prince's first signing bonus.
