One of the greatest pitchers of all time has once again made his stomping grounds in Arlington, Texas. Except this time he isn’t at Rangers Ballpark looking to pitch. Nolan Ryan played a major league record 27 seasons from 1966 to 1933, playing for the NY Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros, and finished his career off with the Texas Rangers. The eight time all-star who owns records for most career strikeouts (5,714) and no-hitters (7), became the first hall of fame player to become a team president in the MLB since 1925.
Obviously the Rangers’ organization is looking for a way to get back on track (after parting ways with ex-president Jeff Cogen when he was named President of the Dallas Stars on November 14, 2007) and hoping that hiring Ryan as the 10th team president of the club will be part of the answer. He currently owns two minor league teams: the Corpus Christi Hooks, which play in the Class AA Texas League, and the Round Rock Express, a Class AAA team in the Pacific Coast League. Both teams are affiliates of the Houston Astros, for whom Ryan also serves as a Special Assistant to the General Manager.
I understand why Rangers Owner Tom Hicks believes Ryan would be a good fit for the club because of his experience and his success as a businessman and entrepreneur. Though, you would have to think, with all these other jobs- would there be a conflict of interest? Could Ryan exist as being the president of one club, and an owner of two minor league franchises for another? I’m not exactly sure how Selig will handle the situation (if he has not already) but I can’t see the MLB allowing a team president to also own minor league teams for another franchise.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:58 am
I don’t think there’s any way he can be President of the team and own minor league teams for another.