At the time, McLane’s experience in professional sports was zip.
“I hadn’t been to three major league baseball games in my life,” McLane said, “and she (my wife) hadn’t been to a one.”
But Astros owner and marine engineer John McMullen proved difficult. And the consortium of Houston business leaders seemed to be pulling in different directions. After several months, the deal fell apart.
However, McLane was now intrigued and pursued McMullen alone.
“I’ve never backed away from something really important in my entire life, and I thought I might want to do this on my own,” McLane said.
Six weeks later, he was the Houston Astros’ new owner. According to Forbes.com, McLane paid $103 million for the team.
“Almost everything we’ve gotten involved in has something to do with logistics,” McLane said. “Except owning the Houston Astros. That didn’t have anything to do with logistics.”
Since McLane took over the franchise, the Astros rank second in winning percentage in the National League and fifth in the major leagues overall (through the end of the 2007 season).
- Fred Afflerbach, Telegram staff writer
