A Major League History Lesson

So how did Decosimo get into acquiring Major League Baseball® teams? The lessons learned in rolling up the bottling industry apply to practically all industries. Specific to baseball, however, we were fortunate to have worked with Bill DeWitt and Mercer Reynolds in acquiring many companies including radio and television stations, insurance companies, and some Coca-Cola® franchises.

Bill’s father had owned the Cincinnati Reds® and Bill’s dream was to one day own a Major League Baseball® team. Bill and Mercer had merged their oil and gas business with George W. Bush’s Texas-based oil and gas firm. When the chance to acquire the Texas Rangers® in 1989 came about, Bill asked us to adapt our transaction services to Major League Baseball®. We worked on the successful acquisition of the Texas Rangers®, which George Bush would guide as managing partner.  Later we assisted with the acquisition of the Orioles®, the Padres® and eventually helped Bill DeWitt lead the acquisition of the St. Louis Cardinals. At the end of 2005, we were honored to work on the successful acquisition of the Cincinnati Reds for Robert Castillini.

So that’s how we came to be involved in Major League Baseball©. We know of no other CPA firm that has been involved in the successful acquisition of five Major League Baseball© franchises.