JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After 31 seasons, the Bragan family is selling Jacksonville's Southern League AA baseball team to the owner of another minor-league team.
Peter "Pedro" Bragan Jr. announced the sale Monday morning to Ken Babby, a former Washington Post advertising executives who also owns the Akron RubberDucks and Eastern League AA franchise.
"It's the right time and I also think it's the right new owner for Jacksonville," Bragan said. "He's got that youth, he's got that enthusiasm and he has the wherewithal to take this franchise on into the future."
In two seasons under Babby, Akron's attendance has increased 27.7 percent. Last season, attendance rose to 350,704, a record 15.7 percent increase over 2013 as the team rose from ninth to fourth in the Eastern League.
The transaction will be made in September, at the end of the 2015 season. The Suns will hold a season-long promotion called Pedro's Last Dance, with several giveaways and special commemorative events to celebrate the end of the Bragan era.
"I don't really own the Jacksonville Suns. All the people who buy the ticket and support the team are the ones that own it. This community owns the Suns. But you are the steward going forward," Bragan told Babby.
The new owner says he'll work hard to meet that challenge.
"I'm new to town and I want to meet as many people as possible," Babby said. "You'll see me in schools and hospitals. I'll go anywhere that I'm invited to meet as many in the community as possible."
The sale is subject to the approval of the Commissioner's Office of Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball, the Southern League of Professional Baseball Clubs as well as the City of Jacksonville.
The terms of the sale were not discussed, but it was reported the price was in excess of $20 million. Bragan's father paid $330,000 for the team in 1984.
Bragan plans to spend his retirement golfing, fishing and traveling with his wife. He said he plans to write a book about the Suns' six Southern League championships called "Six Flags over Bragan Field."
"I haven't been anywhere in the summer for 30 years. I want to go to Europe and Alaska and catch king salmon; co go Australia and catch a big black marlin because, before long, I will be too old for that," Bragan said. "I've got to lose some weight. I thing being away from ball park food will be good for my weight control."