THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK — New controlling owners have been approved for the Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins.
Edward Rogers III replaces his father as head of the Blue Jays. Ted Rogers founded Rogers Communications Inc. and bought the Blue Jays in 2000. He died in December.
Jim Pohlad succeeded his father as head of the Twins. Carl Pohlad died in January at 93. Jim Pohlad has been in charge of the team as one of three brothers on the Twins executive board along with Bill and Bob.
His father bought the Twins in 1984, and they won the World Series in 1987 and 1991. Carl Pohlad’s relationship with fans became strained after he offered the team for contraction in 2001.
Minnesota is playing its last season in the Metrodome and moves into Target Field next year.
The changes in ownership needed approval from Major League Baseball owners. They voted Thursday at their quarterly meetings.
As expected, there was no vote on the proposed sale of the Chicago Cubs from Tribune Co. to the Ricketts family, a deal worth about US$900 million that also includes Wrigley Field and a 25 per cent interest in a regional sports network.
While the Tribune decided in January to negotiate with the Ricketts family, which founded TD Ameritrade Holding Corp., the buyers are still working to arrange financing with JPMorgan Chase & Co., Citigroup Inc. and Bank of America Corp.
Baseball owners are not scheduled to meet again until August but could vote on that deal by telephone conference call if it is ready for approval before then.
