NOMO, IRABU TO JOIN NORTHERN LEAGUE
March 19, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Portland Forest Dragons News Release
Japanese pitchers plan to purchase majority ownership of Elmira
DURHAM, N.C. - A Japanese group led by major-league pitchers Hideo Nomo and Hideki Irabu announced plans Tuesday to buy a controlling share of the Northern League's Elmira Pioneers.
The group will buy 51 percent of the Pioneers from the Ervin family. The Ervins will retain a 49 percent share in the team that it has owned since 1996. Steve Ervin will remain the executive vice president of the team and said the rest of the front office will stay the same.
Nomo and Irabu are spearheading the purchase through a company they formed specifically to obtain the Pioneers. The Pioneers will stay in Elmira where a professional team has played almost continuously since 1885.
Nomo, 33, is beginning his eighth season at the major-league level. He was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1995 for the Los Angeles Dodgers and has also played for the New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers, Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox. He has an 82-71 career record with a 4.05 earned run average in 1348 2-3 innings. The Dodgers re-signed Nomo this off-season.
Irabu, 32, has a 31-27 career record and a 5.09 ERA in three seasons with the New York Yankees and two with the Montreal Expos. He signed with the Texas Rangers this off season.
Elmira is a member of the Northern League's eight-team East Division that also includes: the Allentown (Pa.) Ambassadors, Berkshire (Mass.) Black Bears, New Jersey Jackals, Les Capitales de Québec, Albany-Colonie (N.Y.) Diamond Dogs, Adirondack (N.Y.) Lumberjacks and Brockton (Mass.) Rox. Brockton will open its brand new 4,750-seat Campanelli Stadium in June.
Northern League East owners tentatively approved the sale of the team at a January board of directors meeting. Final approval is expected soon.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 19, 2002
- NOMO, IRABU TO JOIN NORTHERN LEAGUE - Portland Forest Dragons
- Arena Football League Transactions - AFL I
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Portland Forest Dragons Stories
- Tryout Camps Set for March
- Pair Sold to Major League Clubs
- Marshall Hired to Run Baseball Ops
- 28 Former NLers in Winter Ball
- 23 NL Players in Winter Leagues
