Nolan Ryan May Buy Baseball Team

Relax. The headline didn’t say “Texas Rangers.”

Instead, it would be another cog in the Ryan-Sanders Baseball minor league machine. While Nolan Ryan was answering questions about getting involved with the Rangers, son Reid Ryan confirmed to the Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch that the group was taking a look at buying a Double-A Eastern League franchise and relocating it to Richmond. Richmond, long the home of Atlanta’s Triple-A team, lost its club to Gwinnett County, Ga., this year. (Thanks to loyal Cornerian David for the tip).

The significance of all this to me is that Ryan-Sanders seems more intent on buying and operating clubs on its own, than in creating huge partnerships to run a major league team. That’s conjecture on my part, but also a gut-feeling. I still stink Ryan-Sanders will be involved in whatever partnership is cobbled together to buy the Rangers. But I think the “investment” will be mostly from an integrity standpoint. Having Ryan considered at the forefront of the franchise, even if he isn’t the biggest investor, will be good for attracting future investors and will no doubt make Major League Baseball very happy.