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NEWARK, N.J. -- Former major league umpire Al Clark pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy to commit mail fraud in connection with selling baseballs he falsely claimed had been used in memorable games.

The 56-year-old Clark, formerly of Trenton and now of Williamsburg, Va., had claimed some of the balls were used during games in which Cal Ripken tied and broke Lou Gehrig's consecutive games record.

Clark pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court. Memorabilia dealer Richard Graessle Jr., a 43-year-old from Millburn, pleaded guilty to tax evasion for his role in the scheme, which operated from September 1995 to November 1998.

The pair told U.S. District Court Judge John Bissell that they sold balls that they falsely claimed had been used in Dwight Gooden's May 1996 no-hitter for the New York Yankees, the 1978 AL East tiebreaker playoff between the Yankees and Boston Red Sox and Nolan Ryan's 300th career victory in July 1990.

"Most of these baseballs never saw the inside of a major league baseball stadium," U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie said.

Prosecutors said the pair falsely passed off hundreds of baseballs as having been used in historic games. The defendants went to great lengths to make the balls appear genuine, including rubbing them with special mud from a particular creek in Burlington County that is used to take the gloss off all baseballs used in major league games.

Clark remained free on $50,000 bail and is to be sentenced June 3. He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, but could be sentenced to as little as probation. He also must pay $40,000 restitution to victims of the scheme as part of his plea agreement. He also could face civil suits from those victimized, according to Bissell.

Clark became a major league umpire in 1977 and was terminated by the commissioner's office in 2001. Baseball officials said he improperly used plane tickets in violation of his union's contract.

Graessle admitted failing to declare nearly $400,000 in income from the sale of fake and legitimate sports memorabilia from 1996 to 1998. He agreed to make restitution to the Internal Revenue Service of at least $101,377. He is to be sentenced June 4.

Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press