Well as owners that is. http://espn.go.com/minorlbb/news/2004/0513/1800781.html Three Astros to get piece of minors clubs HOUSTON -- Three of the Houston Astros' stars are getting interested in the minor leagues -- as part-owners of two franchises. Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Craig Biggio plan to become part-owners of Ryan Sanders Baseball, joining Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan and Houston businessman Don Sanders. The company owns Triple-A Edmonton and Double-A Round Rock. Sanders told Houston television station KRIV that the deal is done pending approval of Major League Baseball. Clemens said he's looking forward to being involved. "It's just going to be a lot of fun,'' he told KRIV. "As time goes on, I'm sure we will be more and more involved." Pettitte said he never imagined owning a piece of a franchise. "Obviously, it's exciting to be offered to get into that, to be able to just be involved with baseball and with Nolan," Pettitte said. Biggio, acknowledging that one can't play baseball forever, sees it as another way of keeping his foot in the sport's door. ``I'm excited to see how the other side works and operates,'' he said.
Huh? FYI: I believe the Edmonton franshise owned by Ryan Sanders is the one that will be moving to Round Rock & become the new Express AAA team when the 'Stros AA team begins play in Corpus next year (?).
That is the plan as I've heard it. The Edmonton and New Orleans franchises both are eligible to switch major league affiliations after this year.
Here's the article from the Austin paper... 3 Astros becoming part-owners of Express Clemens, Biggio, Pettitte join growing minor-league business, team owner confirms. AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Thursday, May 13, 2004 Houston Astros stars Craig Biggio, Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte are headed back to the minor leagues — this time as owners and partners with Nolan Ryan. The three ballplayers are becoming part-owners of the Ryan-Sanders Baseball Group, which owns the Round Rock Express, the Double-A affiliate of the Astros. Don Sanders, a Houston businessman and Ryan's partner in the baseball business, confirmed the deal this afternoon. He said he and Ryan decided to bring in 20 to 30 new investors to raise $13 million for their expanding baseball business. In addition to the three ballplayers, Sanders identified professional golfer Ben Crenshaw and Houston Texans owner Bob McNair as new part-owners in the minor-league baseball group. Crenshaw's business manager, Scott Sayers, said this afternoon that the Austin golfer is considering the deal but has not committed to it. "We appreciate the opportunity," Sayers said. "We like the way they do business." Sanders would not disclose how much each new investor is putting up. Ryan and Sanders have bought the Triple-A Edmonton Trappers and will move the team to Round Rock for the 2005 season. Their Double-A franchise will move to Corpus Christi. They also have acknowledged plans to buy another Double-A team to play in Baton Rouge. But that plan remains in the initial stages. Clemens, in his first season pitching for the Astros, told Houston television station KRIV that being a minor-league owner is "just going to be a lot of fun." "As time goes on, I'm sure we will be more and more involved," he told the station. http://www.statesman.com/express/content/sports/express/05/0514ryan.html Sounds great! AAA in the suburbs of Austin and great owners... can't beat it.
I'd be more excited if they buy part of Astros one day. It is pretty cool, but minor league teams change cities and affiliations quite a bit it seems. Hopefully they will be affiliated with Astros a long time.
wait.. is it even a done deal that the express will become astros AAA or are they still planning on keeping at new orleans?
They can't make the official announcement because they still have a contract with New Orleans, but in all actuality, it is a done deal. In 2005, The Astros AAA will be in Round Rock and AA in Corpus.
hehe...what a cool logo. Hooks...what an odd name for a sports team, but i guess its better than something else more obviously Corpus Christi like "Sharks" or "Jellyfish" or "Dolphins" or "smelly guys in white rubber boats that gillnet in the middle of the night on meth"
