Jim Crane
From BR Bullpen
James Robert Crane
- Born ~1954
[edit] Biographical Information
Jim Crane became primary owner of the Houston Astros in 2011. He failed in bids to buy the Astros in 2008, the Chicago Cubs in 2009 and the Texas Rangers (along with Mark Cuban) in 2010. In May 2011, he led a group that purchased the Astros from Drayton McLane for $680 million.
One potential problem with the sale of the Astros emerged when the New York Times reported shortly after the sale that Crane's freight company, Eagle Global Logistics, had been cited by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for maintaining a workplace hostile to minorities and for discouraging the hiring of African American managers. The company paid $2.5 million to the EEOC to settle the matter in 2000, but given Major League Baseball's own sensitivities regarding the treatment of African Americans in the past, and its current efforts to extend the legacy of Jackie Robinson and of baseball's role in the Civil Rights Movement, it was expected that this issue would come under close scrutiny before the 29 other owners approved the sale.
As part of receiving approval for the purchase of the Astros from MLB owners on November 17, 2011, Crane agreed to move the team from the NL Central to the AL West Division starting in 2013. He was offered some $70 million in exchange for his agreement, lowering the final purchase price to $610 million. The move created two balanced 15-team leagues in MLB, each with three 5-team divisions.
One of Crane's first moves as owner was to clean house in the front office. On November 27th, he fired both team President Tal Smith and General Manager Ed Wade. He replaced Smith with George Postolos, a former CEO of the Houston Rockets NBA franchise, who had worked with him in putting together his successful bid for the Astros.
Crane was a pitcher in college from 1973 through 1976, with a four-year record of 21-8 with an earned run average of 2.42. The ballpark at Central Missouri is named in his honor.
Source: Associated Press and USA Today articles on Crane's purchase of the Astros
