NORFOLK, Va. — The Baltimore Orioles and their triple-A affiliate, the Norfolk Tides shared a few things on and off the field this past season. Both found themselves in the post season and the Tides themselves would go on to claim both an International League and Triple-A championships.
They're also both under new ownership. Back in October, Norfolk was bought by Diamond Baseball Holdings and changing hands for the first time in 30 years. On Tuesday night, also after 30 years, the Angelos family sold the Orioles for $1.725 billion to private equity billionaires David Rubenstein and Mike Arougheti. Rubenstein is a Baltimore native.
A large portion of Baltimore's baseball team came through Norfolk over the past three years. Tides general manager Joe Gregory sees how the new ownership, that includes former O's great and hall of famer Cal Ripken, Jr. and former NBA great Grant Hill as investors, is a good fit.
"I feel better that knowing they've got some passion and that it's not just a financial transaction", he says. "If it's someone's hometown, I think you care about it a little more."
In a time where we're in a copy cat era, Baltimore's system of doing things makes them one of the elites in professional baseball. It also gives others a chance at emulating.
"Here in Norfolk, we keep our head down, we do our job and the results speak for themselves", says Gregory. "Everyone agrees the Baltimore system is the best system in baseball. I think we saw a turn around that happened quicker than anticipated, but (O's general manager) Mike Elias has proven he's got a good formula and surround himself with good people".