Comcast Spectacor sells three Orioles affiliates
Comcast Spectacor, a Philadelphia-based sports and entertainment firm, had owned all three franchises since January 2001. The Double-A Baysox and Class A Advanced Keys were purchased by Maryland Baseball Holding LLC, which is headed by long-time Minor League owner Ken Young.
Young currently serves as the president of the Orioles' new Triple-A affiliate, the Norfolk Tides, as well as the Pacific Coast League's Albuquerque Isotopes.
"We are excited about the opportunity to provide the central Maryland region with affordable family entertainment," Young said. "We hope to enhance the experience of our fans and showcase top-level Minor League Baseball with our partnership with the Baltimore Orioles."
The Baysox, for one, are excited about the new agreement.
"Ken has a great history of operating Minor League Baseball teams and has an extensive knowledge of management and leadership with the teams he is currently president of," Baysox general manager Brian Shallcross said.
The Class A Delmarva Shorebirds, meanwhile, were sold to Seventh Inning Stretch, a baseball ownership group headed by investor Tom Volpe and Stockton Ports general manager and president Pat Filippone. Upon completion of the sale, the duo quickly announced the hiring of Chris Bitters as the team's new general manager. Bitters had most recently served as the general manager of the California League's Bakersfield Blaze.
"Having worked with Chris in the past, I am confident his experience and strong work ethic will continue to build on the success of the Delmarva Shorebirds," Filippone said.
All three will remain Orioles affiliates.
Comcast Spectacor's sale comes one week after the Minor Leagues' last ownership change. On Nov. 21, it was announced that a group of Houston-area investors had purchased a majority interest in the Northwest League's Boise Hawks.
Benjamin Hill is a contributor to MLB.com.