Word: minored
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...Many minor-league owners are major-league businessmen. The Buffalo Bisons are owned by Robert Rich Jr., president of the Rich Products frozen-food conglomerate, whose family is worth an estimated $450 million. Winston Cox, chief executive of the Showtime cable television network, is a principal owner of the San Jose Giants. The bush leagues have also attracted big-name investors. Among them: Singer Pia Zadora, an owner of the Portland Beavers of Oregon; Actor Mark Harmon, who has an interest in California's San Bernardino Spirit; and George Brett, the Kansas City Royals player, who is part owner...
Opportunities to invest in the minors used to be limited, since about 90% of the farm clubs were once owned and operated by the major-league teams. But by the mid-1970s, as minor-league attendance hit a low point and expenses began to rise, major-league owners began unloading the subsidiaries to local businessmen. Today less than 15% of the teams are owned by major-league clubs...
...league teams, however, kept their affiliations with the farm clubs and still heavily subsidize them to develop players. The major-league teams pay the salaries of minor-league players, managers and coaches. Players' salaries range from an average of about $5,000 a month on Triple A clubs, the highest level in the minors, to $700 to $1,100 a month for both Class A ball and the lowest level of professional baseball, the rookie league. The parent clubs buy equipment and pick up the tab for 75% of the meal and hotel bills when the farm teams...
Despite the subsidies, many businessmen who bought minor-league teams back in the mid-1970s had a hard time turning profits. Recalls Stan Naccarato, president of the Tacoma Tigers: "Some of those owners couldn't sell $10 bills for a dime." They were happy just to kick the dirt in the dugout and scout the next Nolan Ryan...
...owners began to learn how to promote their clubs. Says Art Clarkson, a major shareholder and general manager of the Birmingham Barons: "The days of opening the gates and letting people in are over. We've had to get into the merchandising business." As in the majors, the minor-league clubs started ball, hat, bat and sweatband nights. Then the farm teams added a few gimmicks all their own. Several clubs offer home-plate weddings to their fans. Anyone attending a Birmingham Barons game can order a birthday cake brought to his seat and watch his name being flashed...