LOS ANGELES (AP) The Los Angeles Dodgers may soon be back in
private hands, a development greeted with cautious optimism by a
handful of the team's fans who said Saturday they would welcome a
return to individual ownership if it also meant a returning to
winning.
When media magnate Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. bought the
Dodgers from Peter O'Malley in 1998, the team hadn't won a
postseason playoff game in 10 years. When it was announced Friday
that News. Corp. had reached an agreement to sell the team to
Boston real estate developer Frank McCourt, the Dodgers' hadn't won
a postseason game in 15 years.
``If McCourt can bring back a feeling of integrity and pride and
a real respect for the team, then I am all for it,'' said William
Jones as he hung out Saturday at BBQ King, a downtown eatery not
far from Dodger Stadium.
His friend, and the restaurant's owner, Rod Daniel, agreed.
``When the Dodgers get an owner who cares about winning, the
rest of the league needs to watch out,'' said Daniel, who for now
remains a fan of the rival San Francisco Giants.
At least three-quarters of baseball's 30 owners must approve the
sale, and McCourt must prove to them he has enough financial
backing to close the deal, reported to be worth $400 million.
If he does, McCourt and his investment partners, who haven't
been identified, will get a team with one of baseball's most
storied pasts, but also one that hasn't made the playoffs since
1996 and hasn't won a postseason game since 1988.
``They need a new owner because they haven't been winning,''
said Angel Guerra, 34, who was selling embroidered baseball caps in
downtown Los Angeles for $20 apiece on Saturday.
Daniel places at least some of the blame for that on News Corp.
``The O'Malleys ran it in a special way. That's why they had the
successes they had. Murdoch, he's a big corporation. It was like
Coca-Cola buying them,'' said Daniel, 41. ``His heart wasn't in it.
It was like buying a dealership.''
The O'Malley family's business was baseball.
Peter O'Malley's father, Walter, was the team's lawyer when he
gained a controlling interest in the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1950, the
same year Hall of Fame announcer Vin Sculley joined the
organization.
The team, a fabled fixture of New York's borough of Brooklyn
since the 19th century, broke baseball's color barrier when it
signed Jackie Robinson as the first black major league player in
1947.
The team delighted its New York fans by winning its first World
Series championship in 1955, then broke their hearts three years
later by moving to Los Angeles, an act never entirely forgiven.
In Los Angeles, the winning ways continued, with World Series
championships in 1959, '63, '65, '81 and '88, and legendary
performances by Hall of Fame pitchers Don Drysdale and Sandy
Koufax.
``We have the deepest respect for the history and traditions of
the Dodgers, and we recognize the strong contributions the team has
made to the local community,'' McCourt said in a statement Friday.
``That is a major factor in the Dodgers' allure to us, and we
look forward to building upon that unique relationship with the
city of Los Angeles even further.''
What effect McCourt and his group would have on the Dodgers and
their payroll, already one of baseball's highest, is uncertain.
The team struggled offensively this season, and figured to try
to add some power hitting this winter.
The Dodgers haven't made the playoffs since 1996 when they were
swept in three straight games by the Atlanta Braves. The last time
they made it to the World Series was 1988 when they defeated the
Oakland As 4-1.
They were 85-77 this year, finishing second in the NL West, 15{
games behind San Francisco.
Associated Press writer Andrew Bridges contributed to this
story.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)