Cardinals allegedly hacked Astros player database

June 16, 2015 at 4:07 p.m. | Updated June 16, 2015 at 4:13 p.m.

by Associated Press

In this Feb. 25, 2013, file photo, Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow, right, talks to St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Jon Jay, left, and second baseman Daniel Descalso before an exhibition spring training baseball game in Jupiter, Fla. Major League Baseball says it is cooperating with a federal investigation into an illegal breach of the Astros' internal operations database, amid a report that the Cardinals were responsible for the hack. The New York Times, citing unnamed law enforcement officials, reported Tuesday, June 16, 2015 , that the FBI and Justice Department are investigating whether Cardinals' front-office officials are responsible for the effort to steal information about player personnel. The The teams were rivals in the National League Central until Houston moved to the American League in 2012. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
In this Feb. 25, 2013, file photo, Houston Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow, right, talks to St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Jon Jay, left, and second baseman Daniel Descalso before an exhibition spring training baseball game in Jupiter, Fla. Major League Baseball says it is cooperating with a federal investigation into an illegal breach of the Astros' internal operations database, amid a report that the Cardinals were responsible for the hack. The New York Times, citing unnamed law enforcement officials, reported Tuesday, June 16, 2015 , that the FBI and Justice Department are investigating whether Cardinals' front-office officials are responsible for the effort to steal information about player personnel. The The teams were rivals in the National League Central until Houston moved to the American League in 2012. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

By R.B. FALLSTROM and JIM SALTER

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Federal authorities are investigating whether the St. Louis Cardinals illegally hacked into the Houston Astros' internal player database, according to a person familiar with the investigation.

The person spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity because Major League Baseball, law enforcement officials and teams are not disclosing details of the investigation that were first reported by The New York Times. The Times said the FBI and Justice Department were investigating whether Cardinals' front-office officials were behind the effort to steal player information from the Astros.

MLB said the Astros' "baseball operations database" was breached, but declined further comment until the investigation is completed. The U.S. attorney in St. Louis, Richard Callahan, says he is unaware of the investigation. Messages seeking comment from FBI officials in St. Louis, Houston and Washington were not returned.

The Cardinals and Astros confirmed they are cooperating with the investigation but declined further comment.

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