Chuck Greenberg Wants Another (Smaller) Piece of the Rangers

Two springs ago Nolan Ryan won a power struggle with Chuck Greenberg. But the man who helped yank the Rangers out of bankruptcy in 2010 is apparently trying to regain some footing within the organization.

According to a Major League Baseball source, Greenberg is sniffing around buying the Frisco RoughRiders, better known as the Rangers’ AA affiliate. The team – which Forbes magazine valued as the fourth-most valuable minor-league franchise in 2013 – has been put up for sale by Mandalay Entertainment, the group which has owned the organization since 2003.

You remember Greenberg, right?

Savvy businessman who once saved the NHL’s Penguins in his hometown of Pittsburgh, and arrived just before “midnight” to team with Ryan and helped a group outbid Mark Cuban for the Rangers in a bankruptcy auction four years ago. Greenberg was anointed a hero and named CEO.

And seven months later, poof, he was gone. He got into a philosophical butting of heads with Ryan – stop me if you’ve heard this one before – and owners Ray Davis and Bob Simpson sided with Ryan. Of course, last year those two sided with Jon Daniels over Ryan. And here we are.

Greenberg got a fat parting-gift check. He owns the Rangers’ Class A affiliate in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and briefly tinkered with the idea of buying the Dallas Stars. He’s got money. He loves sports. And he still lives in the Tarrant County suburb of Westlake.

"He's kicking the tires," the source said of Greenberg's interest in buying the Frisco franchise. "He's itching to be a part of the local baseball scene. And we all know he'd be an asset to the Rangers, in any capacity."

Sports Connection

Connecting you to your favorite North Texas sports teams as well as sports news around the globe.

Watch kids adorably fill out Sweet 16 bracket based on team mascots

Kids make March Madness picks based on mascots

Having him in the organization at a local level would be fantastic for the Rangers. If not a tad awkward. Remember, Ryan co-owns the AAA team down in Round Rock. There could be some interesting affiliate meetings the Rangers could hold with Daniels, Greenberg, Ryan, Simpson and Davis all at the same dinner table.

A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently writes a sports/guy stuff blog at DFWSportatorium.com and lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.

Copyright FREEL - NBC Local Media
Contact Us