Dunston, who works part time for the San Francisco Giants, wrote that he was "entitled to college scholarship funds" fromthe Cubs that were part of his original contract. Reached at his San Francisco-area home Thursday night, Dunston explained that a financial adviser told him to write the letter and that he has no intention of going to college at this stage of his life.

"It was just a formality," Dunston said. "When I signed the contract [in 1982], they said they'd pay for my college tuition if I ever went. It was part of my signing bonus, but I never used it. My adviser asked me about it, and told me to send a letter by the 16th [of September], so that's what I did. I have nothing against the Cubs."

Dunston was among the team's former players who received letters from the bankruptcy court asking if they had any objections to the proceedings, initiated to help expedite the team's sale by Tribune Co., which is in Chapter 11. According to the Cubs, the contractual clause was standard for many top high school players, and amounted to about $8,000 to $10,000 worth of tuition in the early 1980s.

But because Dunston never attended college, he was not owed any tuition money. ...

Dunston said Thursday he never expected to get the money.

"Hey, the Cubs don't owe me anything," he said with a laugh. "In fact, I missed two years with a back injury and they paid me well. I love the Cubs and I'll always be a Cub. If anything, I owe them something."