E.J. Buzzie Bavasi (Center seated) -- 1915-2008 -- was our
Senior Partner Emeritus. His distinguished baseball
management career spanned sixty years. He
served as general manager of the Brooklyn and Los
Angeles Dodgers, founding president and part-owner of the
San Diego Padres, and general manager of the California
Angels. His clubs set attendance records in Los
Angeles. His Dodger teams won eight League
Championships and four World Series. His Angels clubs
won two Division Championships. The Sporting News
named him the Executive of the Year in 1959. He earned the Bronze Star during World War II.
Until his death in 2008, Buzzie remained in near daily
contact with a remarkable roster of sports industry
executives, members of the national sports media, and Major
League Baseball's most senior decision makers. He
provided the Partners with strategic advice and operating
counsel from a uniquely qualified perspective. In 2002
and 2011 Buzzie was nominated for the Baseball Hall of
Fame. For a summary and timeline of his baseball
achievements furnished to the Hall of Fame election
committee, please see: www.BuzzieBavasi.com
Peter Bavasi
(Right standing)
was general manager of the San Diego Padres, founding
president of the Toronto Blue Jays, and president of the
Cleveland Indians, where he served on Major League
Baseball's Executive Council. He directed the
international sports practice at Hill & Knowlton, the
world's largest public relations firm, and was president of
ESPN SportsTicker, the leading supplier of instant sports
news and information. Since 1983 Peter has been a
strategic advisor to teams, sports media outlets, and
industry suppliers; and to cities seeking Major League
Baseball teams, including the successful franchise pursuits
in St. Petersburg, FL and Washington, DC. More
recently, Peter served brother Bob Bavasi as managing
partner of Bob's Yuba-Sutter Gold Sox of
Marysville, CA (www.GoldSox.com),
a hybrid summer collegiate baseball club and host team
of the Horizon Air Summer Series (www.SummerBaseballSeries.com), a ground-breaking invitational league
concept.
Chris Bavasi (Right seated) is a former six-term
mayor of Flagstaff, AZ and longtime
federal agency executive. He is a founding director of
the High Altitude Sports Training Complex at Northern
Arizona University and serves as treasurer of the NAU
Foundation. He is a member of the Arizona Baseball and
Softball Commission, appointed by the governor. He
serves as chair of the commission's Arizona Rural Baseball
and Softball Committee and is a member of Arizona's Cactus
League Baseball Committee. Chris provides uniquely
experienced insight and guidance on municipal, regulatory,
and public policy issues and strategies relating to local
sports franchises and publicly financed playing facilities.
Bob Bavasi (Center standing) is
an attorney and longtime minor league club owner, with
well-established business relationships throughout Major
League Baseball and Minor League Baseball. He consults
extensively to owners and buyers about minor league club
matters, and manages the Partners' baseball initiatives in
Japan, including the definitive guide to Japanese baseball (www.JapanBall.com).
Bob is active in a variety of state and local civic,
charitable, educational and nonprofit programs. He has
developed a wide range of community outreach and civic
involvement strategies to assist team owners and their
staffs and players in creating effective community relations
campaigns -- an important element in franchise building and
marketing. Bob is the creator of both the Horizon Air
Summer Series, an innovative collegiate baseball invitational league
(www.SummerBaseballSeries.com),
and its host team, the Yuba-Sutter Gold Sox of
Marysville, CA (www.GoldSox.com).
Margaret Bavasi (Left seated) is an attorney and bank
director who, with husband Bob, actively manages the Partners'
ballclubs. Margaret specializes in facility and event
management and presentation, with particular emphasis on
risk management and operational liability issues -- which
are primary concerns for any franchise owner and
facility manager.
Bill Bavasi (Left standing) is vice president of
scouting, player development and international
operations for the Cincinnati Reds. Bill was formerly
executive vice president and general manager of both the
Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Angels, where he spent 20
years, first as farm director and then as general manager.
Bill also has served as player development director of the
Los Angeles Dodgers. He began his baseball management career
in 1974 with the San Diego Padres. Bill was co-chair of the
U.S. Baseball Olympic Steering Committee and a member of a
variety of influential Major League Baseball industry
committees. Bill works with Major League Baseball officials
at all levels of team and league operations. He has
long-standing associations with officials in the major
domestic professional, amateur and collegiate sports; and
with major industry vendors and suppliers. As well, he works
with administrators and officials in the often complex
environment of international sports. Bill provides an
experienced perspective and a unique understanding of the
business of baseball at all operational levels.