Group led by Jim crane to buy the Astros for $680 M

Jim learned Crane continued playing baseball in his youth.

Rotates, needed. The Houston businessman failed three times to realize his dream to buy a team of major league baseball.

Monday, his attitude paid when the Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane has announced that it had agreed to sell the team to a group led by crane for $ 680 million - second prize in the history of major league if it is approved.

"Whenever we tried was a little difficult", said Crane for its efforts to buy the Texas Rangers, the Chicago Cubs and, Yes, the Astros. "I am accustomed to winning." "If we define our views on winning and we never gave in."

The sale is subject to the approval of major League Baseball, said officials process could take at least 30 to 60 days. Upon approval, his group will become the fifth group responsible owner of a team founded in 1962.

The price for the sale of trails only the purchase of 845 million to the Chicago Cubs by the Ricketts family two years ago. The sale of the Boston Red Sox $ 660 million in 2002 is currently the second. As many of the Astros, the Cubs and Red Sox transactions included of the related entities.

An important selling point was the part of the Astros in a new contract with team NBA Houston Rockets, a regional sports network that will begin airing of Rockets games in 2012 and the Astros in 2013. Crane said 30 year lease of the team at Minute Maid Park, which belongs to the Sports Houston Harris County Authority, will remain intact under the law of property.

may 13, 2011, file photo shows of Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane talk with fans before the start of baseball with the Astros game against the New York Mets, Houston. The Astros have reached an agreement to sell the team to a group led by businessman of Houston Jim Crane. The team announced the agreement Monday, May 16, 2011.

Crane wanted to buy the Astros three years previously, but that did not hinder to retry when McLane set team for sale. It was a little overwhelmed by the reality of finally its goal when it was introduced by McLane and presented with a baseball cap black Astros he was wearing for perhaps a minute before you remove and clutch it as he spoke.

"I was a little emotional up there," he said later. "It will be great fun and we will do our best to put a good product out there." This is a dream. ?

Crane played baseball in the 1970s to Central Missouri State, now known as Central Missouri. It was a solid launcher that ended his career of four years with an era of record and 2.42 21-8.

He said "Baseball has had a considerable impact on me from the moment that I was little and for the better". "From this moment, it has helped me gain confidence and taught me discipline and he taught me to work hard...". I will use all these lessons to go forward with the Astros. ?

The crane group consists of nine other major investors, although it was not clear if McLane will retain a minority interest. McLane said that he would not disclose this information until it is approved for sale.

McLane bought the team in November 1992, $ 117 million and put the franchise for sale in November. He refuses to open the crane in 2008, but said he thinks that the team will be in good hands once the completed transaction.

Crane, who founded a company based in Houston in 2008, logistics is also the President and Chief Executive of the Capital, a private equity fund company crane. In 2009, he was in the running to buy the Cubs and last summer has teamed with the owner of Dallas Mavericks Mark Cuban in an unsuccessful attempt to buy some of Texas Rangers.

He said "If you are a former baseball player that you never give up." "You will go not to win every game." So we stayed in it, we have remained focused and we did not abandon. ?

Crane said his past attempts, helped that happen.