Hardball Capital
| Hardball Capital | |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports management |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Founder | Jason Freier |
| Headquarters | |
| Website | https://www.hardballcapital.com/ |
Hardball Capital is an American sports ownership and management company, which owns several Minor League Baseball teams.
History
[edit]Jason Freier is the chairman and Chief executive officer of Hardball Capital, which is based in Atlanta.[1]
On February 20, 2006, Hardball Capital purchased the Fort Wayne Wizards.[2] Following the 2008 season, the Wizards were renamed to the Fort Wayne TinCaps, in reference to Johnny Appleseed who lived in Fort Wayne and was buried in the city.[2][3]
In July 2006, Hardball Capital purchased the Salem Avalanche.[4] The team was bought for $8 million from Kelvin Bowles who had owned the team for 20 years.[5] In December 2007, Hardball sold the team to Fenway Sports Group.[6]
On March 20, 2008, Hardball Capital purchased the Savannah Sand Gnats of the South Atlantic League.[7][8][9] In August 2015, Hardball moved the Savannah Sand Gnats to Columbia, South Carolina and they became the Columbia Fireflies and moved to the Carolina League.[10]
In March 2015, Hardball purchased the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Double-A (baseball) Southern League.[11]
Sports properties
[edit]| Team | League | Year acquired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga Lookouts[12] | Southern League (Double-A) | 2015 | |
| Columbia Fireflies | Carolina League (Single-A) | 2015 | Rebranded from Savannah Sand Gnats |
| Fort Wayne TinCaps | Midwest League (High-A) | 2006 |
| Team | League | Years owned | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salem Avalanche[4] | Carolina League (Class A-Advanced) | 2006-2007[6] | Sold to Fenway Sports Group |
| Savannah Sand Gnats[8] | South Atlantic League (Class A) | 2008-2015 | Became the Columbia Fireflies |
References
[edit]- ↑ "Jason Freier | ALSD". www.alsd.com. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
- 1 2 "Fort Wayne Franchise History". MiLB.com. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
- ↑ Caputo, Paul (January 10, 2015). "The Apple of Our Eye: The Story Behind the Fort Wayne TinCaps". Retrieved February 7, 2026.
- 1 2 "Lawyer, company to buy second baseball team". Law.com. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
- ↑ Anderson, Robert (August 29, 2025). "Salem honors 'the savior of baseball' in the Roanoke Valley". Cardinal News. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
- 1 2 Bauer, A. J. "Fenway Sports Group gets minor league team". The Patriot Ledger. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
- ↑ Manasso, John (March 20, 2008). "Savannah Sand Gnats sold to Hardball Capital - Atlanta Business Chronicle". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
- 1 2 "Gnats announce ownership change". MiLB.com. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
- ↑ Dominitz, Nathan. "Sand Gnats to change ownership". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
- ↑ "New for 2016: Columbia Fireflies | Ballpark Digest". August 4, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
- ↑ "Group Completes Purchase of Chattanooga Lookouts". MiLB.com. Retrieved February 7, 2026.
- ↑ "Freier, locals close on Lookouts purchase | Ballpark Digest". Baseball Digest. March 5, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2026.