Dodgers Ownership visits Dow Diamond

MIDLAND, MI - For the first time since the official announcement on March 27 and eventual $2.15 billion closing on May 1, the leader of the Los Angeles Dodgers new ownership group, Guggenheim Baseball Management, visited its Single-A partner at Dow Diamond.

Making the trip to take in the Loons operation, Dow Diamond, and Monday's Bark in the Park Night, was Mark Walter, owner and chairman of the Dodgers and founder and chief executive officer of Guggenheim Partners.

"Mark spent time meeting staff, players, and fans," Paul Barbeau, Loons president and general manager, said. "In all cases, he stressed his competitiveness and passion for the Dodgers. We are excited by his plans to build a winning organization at both the Major League and Minor League levels."

Walter's passion for the game started growing up in rural Iowa watching several teams, whether it be the Minnesota Twins, St. Louis Cardinals, or Kansas City Royals, all of which pull from the Iowa market. He moved to Chicago for school and naturally became a fan of the city's two clubs.

Now, nearly 50 years since he may have first picked up a broom handle with the intent of swinging for the fences, Walter is enjoying the new reality of owning a baseball franchise.

"I don't know if I had [tangible] expectations of what it'd be like," Walter said. "Obviously if you haven't done something before, it'd be very hard to know what it's like. But it's just been fantastic. I feel like I'm one of the luckiest people in the world."

Walter and Guggenheim Partners were first approached with the idea of making a bid for the Dodgers by longtime sports executive Stan Kasten, who Walter said was very instrumental in educating the group about the entire process what opportunities owning a baseball team presents.

Among the things Kasten emphasized was the importance in building a championship team through the player development program and establishing good relationships with the minor league partners.

Also joining in the investment and new venture is Michigan-native and former NBA point guard, Magic Johnson, who Walter says brings a 'dedication to winning' with his 10 NBA championships as a player and executive.

For the moment, Walter is making his rounds to meet with each of the Dodgers minor league partners, most for the first time. Each visit, like Monday's, comes with the intent of meeting players and coaches, as well as front office staff and owners. Alongside Walter during the visit was Baseball Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda.

"It's fantastic, Tommy's the best," he said. "Tommy has 1,000 stories and every one of them is terrific. You spend a few days with Tommy; you'll be a Dodgers fan."

But more than just from Lasorda's commanding baseball stories, Walter is all-in as a Dodger and views the investment in a light that Dodgers fans should be able to take pride in.

"I don't think it's a hobby," Walter said. "I think it's a passion, and hopefully an asset that will be in mine and my partners' families for generations. The Dodgers, like the Yankees and some of the other larger-market teams, have different revenue opportunities than smaller-market teams do."

As a management group, Walter is set on making the Los Angeles Dodgers franchise into the best it can possibly be, and is only in the beginning stages of exploring all of the options available to making his dream a reality. The same can be said for his plans with Dodger Stadium.

"The ballpark, it's 50 years old, it's not in terrible shape, but it needs a lot," he said. "We're going to do a study and determine what are all the options, in terms of things that are going to be done or could be done, and then make a decision on which ones to go forward with."

Walter suggested improvements to players' areas and facilities as well as acting on the numerous fan suggestions he has received. Whatever decisions that are made, he stressed the importance of making changes without compromising the original feel of the park.

By the end of his trip to Midland, Walter had become familiar with Dow Diamond, the H Hotel, the 2012 Loons Team, the Great Lakes Reserve presented by Chemical Bank, and various community members.

"We are very happy that Mark made the time to visit Dow Diamond," Barbeau said. "He was impressed with the Loons facilities, staff, and community support. We look forward to continuing to build a terrific partnership with Mark and his team."

Though Walter and Guggenheim Baseball Management are still feeling out everything their investment stands to offer, it's clear that the future looks bright under with the ownership's focus on bringing championship baseball to the Los Angeles Dodgers and its Minor League teams.