The Atlantic League has unanimously approved Brandon Bellamy, chief executive officer of Velocity Companies LLC, as the majority owner of the league’s new expansion club in Gastonia, N.C., which is set to begin play next spring.
On its own, the news is significant. Finding an owner for an expansion independent league club in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic would be notable in itself. It has been a brutal year for professional baseball teams around the country, because everyone has had to deal with a lost season and the lost revenues that go with it.
And with affiliated baseball facing the potential for contraction—Major League Baseball wants to cut from the current 160 ticket-buying minor league teams to 120—the effects of that will filter down to independent leagues like the Atlantic League as well.
But that’s not what is most notable about Bellamy’s ownership in Gastonia. Bellamy, a real estate developer who will also be developing projects around the Gastonia ballpark, is the only Black majority owner in professional baseball.
There are 30 Major League Baseball teams and another 150 minor league teams in leagues where individual owners can own clubs. On top of that, there are more than 30 independent professional teams.
As far as Baseball America can determine, there has not been a Black majority owner of any professional baseball club since Tom Lewis owned the South Atlantic League’s Savannah Cardinals in 1986 and ’87.
This story is from the September 2020 edition of Baseball America.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the September 2020 edition of Baseball America.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
NOBODY'S PERFECT
No. 1 prospect Jackson Holliday has one flaw in an otherwise airtight profile
ORGANIZATION REPORTS
At nearly every level of his professional career, outfielder Colton Cowser has taken time to acclimate. His major league debut last season was no different.
ORGANIZATION TALENT RANKINGS
For the second consecutive year, the Orioles enter the season with the best farm system in baseball.
WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN WITH NEW ROSTER LIMITS
No one can fully predict what will happen with the reduced 165-player minor league roster limits, but baseball officials weighed in with predictions for 2024, some of which we heard repeatedly.
NO MORE SLACK IN THE SYSTEM
The in domestic minor leagues creates consternation for farm directors
INTERNATIONAL TREASURES
Why MLB teams value foreign professionals more than ever
HIGH-FLYING BIRDS
Learning from past success and failure in Houston, Mike Elias and his united front office remade the Orioles into winners— and they got there ahead of schedule
ARIZONA COMPLEX LEAGUE TOP 10
Early promotions of star prospects led to a bit of a down season for the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League.
FLORIDA COMPLEX LEAGUE TOP 10
Even before the Rookie-level Florida Complex League season began, scouts who saw extended spring training gushed over the Yankees' talent, starting with shortstop Roderick Arias and 6-foot7 pitchers Henry Lalane and Carlos Lagrange. Outfielder John Cruz mashed 10 home runs as a 17-year-old.
SALAS COULD BE SPECIAL
When Ethan Salas arrived in the California League on May 30, he immediately displayed talent well beyond his years.