Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 16, 1993 TAG: 9312160152
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
"This could happen very quickly, it could take some time, or it might just fly out the window," he said. "Either way, I plan to have a happy Christmas."
Although Bowles has not been actively seeking to sell the franchise that he's owned since 1986, he said it has been available for the right price.
"I tell people who have asked that I have a price in mind and that I'm not taking a penny less," he said. "If they don't want to pay that price, then I don't even want to talk to them."
Bowles, just back from baseball's 91st Winter Meetings last week in Atlanta, said that rumors were flying about all sorts of possible franchise transactions throughout the minor leagues.
"I've talked to several people about this team, one more seriously than the rest," he said. "There are people who would love to buy it. But I haven't seen any money yet."
Carolina League president John Hopkins said Bowles has made no move to secure approval of a sale from the league. The board of directors of the league, the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, and Major League Baseball all must approve both the contract terms and the new owner before a sale can go through.
That's the final step. It isn't unusual for owners to keep their counsel with respect to the league until they have some sort of agreement in hand.
"I'm usually the last to know [about a potential sale]," Hopkins said.
As for the identity of a potential buyer, Bowles would not say. But he did offer some tantalizing clues. First, the interested party is out of town.
"And they're already in baseball now," he said. "That's good, as far as I'm concerned. I have enough feeling for the City of Salem and the Roanoke Valley that I would not want a fly-by-night operation coming in here. I want to see somebody in here who has some experience and knows how to do things right."
The Carolina League's Winston-Salem Spirits were sold for what was believed to be between $2 million and $2.2 million this week. Bowles has a similar figure in mind for the Buccaneers.
"Absolutely," he said.
With the specter of out-of-town ownership, there also arises an implied threat that the team could be Bowles moved.
"There has not been any discussion that the team would be moved," Bowles said. "I don't think that would happen."
However, in the foreseeable future, an owner - whether he be Bowles or somebody else - might be left with no choice but to move out of Salem. The Professional Baseball Agreement, which governs standards for minor-league facilities, is up for renewal after next season. Antiquated Municipal Field, the Bucs' home address, may not be treated kindly under a new agreement.
"If they don't get a new park here, then Major League Baseball may make somebody move," Bowles said. "But at the same time, if there is a commitment to a new field, then I don't think anybody could move a team out of here. No way. I don't think the league would let them."
The Pittsburgh Pirates, the Class A Bucs' parent organization, is here for at least one more season. The organization's player development contract with Salem is up for renewal after this season. Pittsburgh farm director Chet Montgomery said he did not anticipate an ownership switch affecting the Pirates.
Montgomery also said what he's said many times before: A new ballpark would be a most encouraging development, as far as the Pirates are concerned.
"If they build a new park, we'd be inclined to stay," he said. "We have no reason to move."
But if there is no commitment to a new park? All bets are off then, he said.
"We'd have to look at it very hard," he said. "A lot of things can happen."
Just how much influence Bowles may have or active role he would play should the team be sold is open for question. However, it does appear he has the interests of current employees at heart as discussions proceed.
"I don't think anybody could come in there and not leave [current general manager] Sam Lazzaro in charge," Bowles said. "They'd be crazy."
Bowles, who has made his money in a Rocky Mount-based cable television business, said he doesn't make a whole pile of money with the Bucs. The value in it for him is that he's around something he loves (he scouts on the side for the Florida Marlins) and it's been a relatively hassle-free enterprise, he said.
But he said that is changing.
"Baseball isn't as much fun any more for the same reason the cable television business isn't as much fun," he said. "The FCC tells me how to run my cable business and Major League Baseball is doing the same with the team. Yet they don't send you any money to do the things they've told you to do. It kind of makes you want to retire to the farm and hunt and fish all day."
In sum, he said, he isn't all that fired up about selling the team unless he gets the deal he's after.
"I have a lot of mixed feelings and cold feet," he said. "It's about not needing to sell the team. I have a lot of feelings for the ballclub and for the area.
"When and if it comes time to sign that final document, it won't be easy."
by CNB