The complaint also asserts that Kendrick has manipulated the clubs equity structure to put the plaintiffs in a bind. All of these plans would be executed once a major professional sports franchise signed a lease to play in the stadium.4, In January 1988 Bidwill won approval from the NFL to move his franchise to Arizona. If were being honest, an owner with a minority stake experiences a mostly ceremonial involvement. After the vote, Bruner, as he had planned, resigned from the board to run for an open congressional seat. In response, the. Martin Stone, the owner of the Phoenix Firebirds, the San Francisco Giants Triple-A affiliate, was the driving force behind the push. He emphasized the booming population of metropolitan Phoenix, the regions history of enthusiastic support for collegiate, spring-training, and Fall League baseball, and his history of managerial success with the Suns.19 A few days later the owners awarded Arizona Baseball Inc. an expansion franchise. Colangelo transformed the Suns into one of professional basketballs best managed and most consistently successful franchises. The actual ownership of the club has been far more divided. Molina, a jeweler by trade, is chairman and CEO of Molina Fine Jewelers. A trio of Diamondbacks minority owners have filed a lawsuit against the franchise's managing general partner Ken Kendrick, according to a report from Zach Buchanan of The Athletic. Later in 1993, Bruner and Garagiola set up a meeting with Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo, one of the regions most popular public figures and fervent boosters, to discuss their idea. Colangelo also negotiated a financing deal for a new arena to be built primarily with private money raised through JDMs limited partners and corporate sponsorship deals. His presence would likely have galvanized the already stinging criticism that he and pro-stadium legislators had already faced as a result of the deal. He is also a PhD candidate in US History at Boston College. 7 Martin Stone; Bob Cohn, Race for Big Leagues Begins, Arizona Republic, June 15, 1990, A1; Eric Miller, Valley Strikes Out, Arizona Republic, December 19, 1990, A1. ", The team respondedin a statement, saying that with the backing of Major League Baseball, it, has "chosen to streamline the ownership group and reduce the number of partners with very minimal equity stakes in the partnership.". In 1968, the expansion Phoenix Suns basketball franchise hired the 29-year-old Colangelo as their first general manager, making him the youngest in major professional sports. They finished first in the NL West in 1999, their second season in the major leagues. Spent Some Time as a Banking Executive, 8. Snapshift is a Parisian startup that has recently made the news in business circles with its $45 million round of investor backing. Among the Diamondbacks limited partners are Alfredo Molina and Jim Weber. The best guide in Arizona to getaways, concerts and the dining scene. Nevertheless, Bank One Ballpark has contributed to the revitalization of downtown Phoenix. It was no secret that Bill Bidwill, owner of the NFLs St. Louis Cardinals, intended to move to Phoenix. managing general partner Ken Kendrick, per, According to that report, they are claiming Kendrick and the Diamondbacks ownership group ", The attorney for the minority owners, Roger Cohen, said his clients weren't legally required to increase their investment and believed Kendrick's leveraging ", had to do with consolidating and increasing the ownership stake of the remaining owners. To that end, limited partners with less than 1% have been warned that the Diamondbacks could terminate their partnership interests. To that end, he is barred from acting in ways that deny the limited partners of their benefits of the partnership. Ken Kendrick, who had been a managing partner since the franchises origins, took over as managing general partner. The limited partners insist that Kendrick has breached their partnership agreements by, among other steps, imposing the buy-up/buy-out ultimatum. Stone persuaded Bidwill to join him in building a stadium in the downtown area. 7. Thompson, A History of the Cactus League.. In subsequent seasons Showalter clashed with Garagiola over the direction of the club. Phoenix, AZ 85004 Two years later, Johnson and Schilling anchored the team that won the 2001 World Series against the Yankees.23, The Diamondbacks success helped them draw large crowds even after the honeymoon of their first season. , "AZ Diamondbacks Team History and Encyclopedia", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Arizona_Diamondbacks_owners_and_executives&oldid=1080167209, Lists of Major League Baseball owners and executives, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 30 March 2022, at 17:23. Diamondbacks partners were called upon to make pro rata contributions towards legal, accounting and consulting fees. This list may not reflect recent changes ( learn more ). He's been managing general partner since 2004. This directive goes to the meaning of the term buy-up/buy-out: a limited partner with less than 1% would need to buy up to at least 1%, or he or she would experience a buy out of their interest. Other claims include those for breach of fiduciary duty and breach of implied covenants of good faith and fair dealing. Accessed August 3, 2016: http://maricopa.gov/StadiumDistrict/pdf/MCStadiumDistFY12AFR.pdf; David Fritze, Boom! In March 2016 Kendrick made public his belief that the Diamondbacks needed a new ballpark, and presented a preliminary proposal to county officials. D-backs tickets are on sale now with home games starting April 6! In the 1960s, Kendrick founded Datatel, Inc., a computer software developer. AZ International Auto Show & New Car Buyer's Guide 2020 Model Year, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. He has participated in SABRs Biography Project since 2012. Opened in 2011, the facility is on land owned by the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community. In the late 1990s, a family of four could attend a game for well under $50, including tickets, parking, and refreshments.24, On game days, thousands of suburbanites who would likely not have otherwise patronized downtown Phoenix brought their discretionary dollars to the BOB and its environs. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Kendrick went to school at West Virginia University, which is a school with something of a reputation for research. Taking on this role required Colangelo to manage a $125 million fundraising drive to pay the anticipated franchise fee for the 1994 expansion. Like Kendrick, Jensen and Chipman earned their fortunes in the software industry. Showalter came aboard just days after the New York Yankees fired him in the wake of the teams playoff loss in its first postseason appearance in 14 years. Contact SABR, Ibid. The three plaintiffs are businessman Alfredo Molina, former pitcher Jim Weber and an LLC called Carlise Investments. 5 Martin Van Der Werf, Martin Stone, Arizona Republic, March 12, 1995, BB2; Stadium Developer Quits Deal; Martin Stone Quits Pact for Dome; Plan in Peril; Agreement Reached on Stadium.. They practice in Phoenix at the law firm Jaburg Wilk. To that end, the plaintiffs insist on all relevant emails, correspondences, work papers and empirical analyses with MLB and Bases Loaded. The franchises financial situation and farm system were in difficult straits at the time of the original regimes departure, but for for more than a decade this has been Kendricks franchise. Ballpark deal in hand, Colangelo made his expansion pitch to major-league owners in February 1994. Kendrick is the managing general. The teams apparent goal is to streamline the ownership group and reduce the number of partners with very minimal equity stakes in ownership. Alfredo Molina, Jim Weber, and Carlise Investments are suing Kendrick over his buy up or be bought out ultimatum, which started in January. Business-wise, Kendrick might be best-known for founding Datatel Inc. There is no logic to it. 12 Mike Padgett, Decision Cost Jim Bruner His Dream of Serving as U.S. Congressman, Phoenix Business Journal, March 26, 2008. Used by permission under Creative Commons license (CC BY-SA 2.0). The educational giant has grown to be one of the largest of its kind in the, Read More 20 Things You Didnt Know About ByjusContinue. An MLB spokesperson told Buchanan that the league preferred smaller minority owner pools and that the Diamondbacks had a larger pool than other teams. The plaintiffs insist that Kendrick is using illegal tactics to purge them from the partnership. While these individuals are colloquially referred to as owners, they are more accurately called limited partners. Limited partners comprise a legal entitythe partnershipthat is structured to obtain tax advantages and secure immunities from personal liability. During the 2016 Republican presidential primaries, the Kendricks made headlines in Arizona for their strident opposition to Donald Trumps bid for the nomination. He served as the Coyotes' Majority Owner, Chairman and . The three plaintiffs believe that Kendrick is effectively forcing them to sell their stakes and at below-market value. The owners Jim Weber, Alfred Molina and. He became part- owner with the team's inception in 1995. Cronkite School at ASU Managing General Partner Years/Date; Ken Kendrick, Managing General Partner: 2004-Present: Mike Chipman, General Partner: 2004-Present: Jeff Royer, General Partner: 2004-Present: Jerry Colangelo, Managing General Partner: Learn how your comment data is processed. Like Scottsdale itself, Talking Stick evokes the Old Southwest with its homages to mission revival architecture, sagebrush surroundings, and views of Camelback Mountain. The arrival of major-league baseball in metropolitan Phoenix in 1998 was preceded by a half-century of close ties between the Valley of the Sun, as Phoenix and 9,200-square-mile Maricopa County are widely known, and the big leagues. Cohen rejects any notion that the 1% floor constitutes MLB edict. ", "Each of those investors was given the opportunity to remain as part of the group by purchasing additional partnership units at a rate determined by a highly respected, independent appraiser. Rooser is a new startup in the seafood industry. But the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors made it evident that they had no interest in supporting any such municipal investments, particularly when Major League Baseball deemed Chase Field acceptable to host its All-Star Game as recently as 2011. 8 John Walters, Brazen Arizona, Sports Illustrated, January 29, 1996, 190-194. Martinez and allows three runs in 1 2/3 innings in his second start of Spring Training, Perfect day for a nice stroll around the bases. Molina, a jeweler by trade, is chairman and CEO of Molina Fine Jewelers. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. In-depth coverage of the Valleys real estate market and whats being built and redeveloped in your city. In particular, it is worth noting his support of prostate cancer research, which is connected to the fact that he is a survivor of said medical condition. Owners. All Rights Reserved. Gambling problem? Later that year, Colangelo and Garagiola hired Buck Showalter as the club's first manager. The Fox Sports Net Arizona deal later led to the partners splitting millions of dollars in distributions as well as obtaining additional interests in an accompanying broadcasting entity. For the fourth count of Breach of Fiduciary Duty, filed specifically against Kendrick and the General Partner, which is AZDB I the plaintiffs also seek punitive damages as they claim Kendricks actions were willful, malicious and performed with evil mind and a conscious disregard for the risk of injury to the plaintiffs. In short, it started out as a business that specialized in data processing, but went on to become something much more, as shown by the fact that its latter incarnation specialized in building education platforms for institutes of higher education. They've been told to increase their investment or be bought out, which they say is an unlawful ultimatum. Bullpen reinforcements: those we didnt sign. MLB will see a stake in the litigation. As reported by Zach Buchanan of The Athletic, three Diamondbacks minority owners are suing general . Arizona Diamondbacks principal owner Ken Kendrick sent former Arizona attorney general Grant Woods a threatening and aggressive email June 19 before Woods was fired from the Phoenix law firm . In recent years, they have worked closely with the Koch political organization. Michael McCann is SIs Legal Analyst. The three minority owners in question are Alfredo Molina, CEO of a Phoenix-area jewelry company; Jim Weber, a former professional pitcher; and Carlisle Investments. Like many of his predecessors in New York, the intense Showalter butted heads frequently with the clubs domineering owner, George Steinbrenner. According to Buchanan, the lawsuit has nothing to do with any potential relocation as Kendrick controls a voting bloc of 90% of the ownership (Kendrick himself does not have 90% of the ownership shares). This assertion, Cohen explains, isnt supported by any evidence and seems to belie how the Diamondbacks operate: Kendrick allegedly runs the team without consequential input from partners. Given MLBs interest in seeing this litigation resolve without being implicated, the league might urge Kendrick to find a solution. Kendrick has the legal responsibility to engage in fair dealing and act ethically. 10 NBA Notebook: Pacific, The Sporting News, October 26, 1987, 47; Steve Wilson, When Youre Colangelo, You Gotta Believe, Arizona Republic, January 16, 1994, 10; Norm Frauenheim, Colangelo-Led Group Buys Phoenix Suns, Arizona Republic, October 13, 1987, A1, A2. He realized that if he alienated an ally like Bruner, the political pressure that other county supervisors would face from a public that less than five years earlier had turned down a stadium financing referendum would likely push their votes into the no column.13, Maricopa County tax assessors projected that revenue from the 0.25 percent sales tax would reach its $238 million target in approximately 2 years, and the tax would end around the time the ballpark was slated to open in March 1998. ", The team respondedin a statement, saying that with the backing of Major League Baseball, ithas "chosen to streamline the ownership group and reduce the number of partners with very minimal equity stakes in the partnership. If the offered price to buy them out increases, they might ultimately say yes. As of 2016 the Sun Devils have won five NCAA championships, appeared in 22 College World Series, and produced numerous major-league stars, including Reggie Jackson, Bobby Bonds, Dustin Pedroia, and Bob Horner. The Diamondbacks operate through a limited partnership. Weber, meanwhile, was told he would need to invest another $6.1 million to meet 1%, or he could sell his share for $1.6 million. Attorneys for Kendrick and the club will answer the complaint. Molina is the chairman and CEO of Molina Fine Jewelers, while Weber is a former professional pitcher. Accessed June 10, 2016: http://seattlepi.com/sports/baseball/article/Diamondbacks-Yankees-found-success-after-1069899.php. The Diamondbacks apparently no longer classify the plaintiffs as limited partners. Three minority owners of the Diamondbacks claim that the club and managing general partner Ken Kendrick is illegally trying to force them to either increase their investment in the team or relinquish their stakes at a price the minority owners say is unfairly discounted, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Maricopa County Superior Court. Access to restricted areas in the ballpark, priority seating for games and exclusive meetups with players are among common perks. The buyer can then call himself or herself an owner and gain certain privileges. Carlisle Investments has. As a result, Kendrick is a figure of some note in both the MLB and beyond. But the downtown area slowly emerged from its doldrums, becoming a destination to visitors outside of bankers hours. [1] The win-now approach of the Colangelo-Garagiola era can take some of the blame for the diminishing returns. The Diamondbacks adopted a quintessentially late 1990s palette of team colors: purple, turquoise, black, and copper. For more details on the lawsuit, including reading the actual document, I recommend reading the linked article from The Athletic. While the limited partners might not have a vote per se on club affairs, their investment can provide important capital to the club. The same rate was utilized to purchase back existing units from those who declined the offer to purchase new units. In addition, partners can be called upon to contribute toward fees in a transaction. Here are 10 things that you may or may not have known about Ken Kendrick: Ken isnt Kendricks personal name. CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc. site: media | arena: mlb | pageType: stories | It gave ownership of the ballpark to the county and guaranteed the county one-third of the annual earnings from naming rights. Carlisle Investments has been a part of the ownership group from 1998 with Molina and Weber buying stakes in 2004, when the team had an operating deficit of $300MM. In turn, this means that he has been involved with various banks in various other banks as well, with an excellent example being his investment in Woodforest National Bank. In 2016 Kendrick and the Diamondbacks organization were engaged in contentious negotiations with the Maricopa County Stadium Authority over the future of Chase Field. Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) March 1, 2023 Drey Jameson K's two D-backs No. In 1990 the Arizona Legislature passed legislation that created a Maricopa County stadium district governed by the county Board of Supervisors. Kendrick is interesting in that it has two potential meanings in two languages. ET. Despite some misgivings, Colangelo agreed to the deal. But instead of becoming a tenant of Stone and the city in the planned domed stadium, Bidwill signed a long-term lease with Arizona State University to play the Cardinals games at the football-only Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, just east of Phoenix. Chipman was the creator and original owner of TurboTax. Granted, this level of ownership doesnt provide authority over team decisions, on- or off-the-field. Colangelos Suns had engendered unprecedented enthusiasm in the region for professional sports with an exciting run to the NBA playoff finals that year. A native of West Virginia, Kendrick made his fortune in the software business as the founder of Datatel Inc., a Virginia-based company that provided high-tech services and software to colleges and universities. More than two dozen limited partners bought into Arizona Baseball Inc., including executives at Bank of America, Circle K, and Phoenix radio station KTAR, trucking magnate and future Phoenix Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes, comedian Billy Crystal, and Phoenix Suns All-Star Danny Manning.11, Colangelo set to work negotiating a financing deal for a downtown ballpark. 555 N. Central Ave. #416 Colangelo later said that taking the lead in the baseball expansion effort fulfilled his desire to play a more prominent role in increasing the national profile of the Valley of the Sun. 17 County Close to Deal on Ballpark; Arizona Republic, January 9, 1994, A1; David Schwartz and Eric Miller, Negotiators Strike Deal on Big-League Ballpark, Arizona Republic, January 15, 1994, A1; Decision Cost Jim Bruner His Dream of Serving as U.S. Congressman.. Garagiola followed Colangelo out the door in 2005. The revenue from the tax helped revitalize existing spring-training facilities and build several new complexes, including one for the Indians, who chose to stay in Arizona, moving to the Phoenix suburb of Goodyear in 1993. Stoneham placed his clubs spring-training camp in Phoenix. The dispute began in January, when Kendrick informed 22 minority owners of the directive, which constitutes an effort to streamline the current ownership group. If it so wishes, a team can have dozens of minority stake owners. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. Accessed June 10, 2016: http://bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2008/03/31/story7.html. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Stones decision to withdraw his Arizona bid brought a de-facto end to Phoenixs chances to get a team during that expansion cycle, when franchises were awarded to Denver and Miami.7. Among the Diamondbacks' limited partners are Alfredo Molina and Jim Weber. 9 prospect Drey Jameson strikes out two batters in two hitless innings during his spring outing against the Giants D-backs Insider Group Tickets Private Suites Special Events Caesars Sportsbook at Chase Field Carson Kelly's solo home run Kendrick, the . Bearing the name of a Phoenix-based airline, it was one of the earliest examples of stadium naming rights being sold to a corporation.10, In September 1993 Colangelo announced the formation of Arizona Baseball Inc., whose purpose was to bring a major-league baseball team to Phoenix. Colangelo agreed to a set of terms that saved Maricopa County taxpayers more than $40 million on the facility.12, The stadium financing deal Bruner and Colangelo worked out capped Maricopa Countys sales tax contribution at $238 million. Accessed June 3, 2016: http://azcentral.com/story/entertainment/events/2015/02/25/cactus-league-stadium-guide-salt-river-fields-at-talking-stick/24009267/ . By the time the Diamondbacks played their first game at Bank One Ballpark, metropolitan Phoenix was home to teams in all four major professional leagues. The league doesnt want the litigation to progress to pretrial discovery, where attorneys for the plaintiffs could demand that commissioners office staffwho appear to be key witnesses given their interactions with Kendrickturn over sensitive emails, other correspondences and financial records. That netted him the equivalent of a .5% interest in the partnership. 9 Robert Logan, Colangelo Quits Bulls to Take Phoenix Post, Chicago Tribune, February 29, 1968, C1; Bob Logan, Colangelo Has Suns Climbing for Summit, Chicago Tribune , May 23, 1976, B3; Lee Shappell, Jerry Colangelo, Arizona Republic, March 12, 1995, BB2; Colangelo Took Bait All the Way to Finals; Kevin Simpson, The Place to Be, The Sporting News, November 7, 1994, S3; Jack McCallum, Desert Heat, Sports Illustrated, May 28, 1990, 50-51; Joe Gilmartin, Suns Colangelo NBA Executive of the Year, The Sporting News, May 16, 1981, 46. Later that year, Colangelo and Garagiola hired Buck Showalter as the clubs first manager. Besides that, the place has a reputation for being the so-called Jewel of the South.. Read More 20 Things You Didnt Know About SnapshiftContinue, Byjus is an educational technology company that has achieved a significant position in its niche in the technology industry. Moreover, the Arizona branding of the Diamondbacks was in keeping with the previous round of baseball expansion, which brought the Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies into existence.20, As general manager the Diamondbacks in June 1995 hired Joe Garagiola Jr., one of the founding fathers of big-league baseball in Phoenix. Initially, the BOB proved to be its own draw with an unprecedented array of amenities that appealed to spectators who were not especially interested in baseball: several playgrounds, a picnic pavilion, a day spa, and a swimming-pool party area (which could be rented for a group of up to 30 for $4,000 per game) were among the most popular attractions. A list of all owners in the history of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The company helps connect suppliers and seafood buyers throughout Europe. Process almost always matters in contractual disputes. Ken Kendrick photo courtesy of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Instead, his full name is Earl G. Kendrick Jr., though to be fair, Ken Kendrick has a nice alliterative sound to it. Showalter preferred a steady player-development program through a farm system while Garagiola adopted the win-now (meaning sign free agents) approach favored by Colangelo. The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Druw Jones with the second overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft in mid-July, but the team may not get to see Jones play for the Ex-Cy Young winner joins . Under Colangelo and Garagiola, the Diamondbacks won division titles in 1999 and 2001 as well as the pennant and World Series in 2001. Chase Field will host 10 World Baseball Classic games from March 11-15. The partners also satisfied requirements found in their Diamondbacks agreements. By the end of the 2004 season, the club owed more than a quarter of a billion dollars in deferred salaries.26. In the summer of 2016 the Diamondbacks asked Maricopa County for help in subsidizing $65 million worth of renovations to Chase Field, which county officials have also rejected.30. Im not sure what the ulterior motive is for such a decision, but it definitely comes off as nefarious. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the franchise signed high-priced free agents to large contracts that deferred large amounts of salary. The attacker told the press, I shot Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox to try to put a stop to the political dictatorship of Jerry Colangelo in pushing the baseball stadium tax. Wilcox survived the attack, which she blamed on the harsh opposition to the tax that remained a fixture of Phoenix talk radio.18. The colors were marketed as evocative of the regions cultural heritage. After a 1995 name the team contest conducted by the Arizona Republic in 1995, the nickname Diamondbacks was chosen for the team. Kendrick might argue that he does, in fact, rely on the advice and counsel of limited partners, or that he would like to, but that a large roster of limited partners makes the organization less organized. The whole saga began on January 13th, when Kendrick sent out a letter to 22 minority owners with ownership stakes of less than 1% to either buy up or be bought out. Giannis Antetokounmpo joins Kevin Durant and James Harden as owners of MLS teams Antetokounmpo is not the only NBA star getting involved in the MLS. Weber purchased the equivalent of a .25% interest in the partnership. The Diamondbacks gave Showalter the additional responsibility of overseeing the development of its minor-league system. This is a straightforward claim. 3:57 pm ET, including the six counts on which the plaintiffs are suing, Kik Hernndez recounts on-field bathroom accident, Phillies top prospect Andrew Painter has tender elbow, Max Scherzer fools hitter with new pitch clock rules, Report: Padres looking to extend Juan Soto, Josh Hader, Four international prospects to watch in the WBC, Team USA World Baseball Classic roster, schedule, Phillies top prospect Painter has elbow tenderness, Report: Padres looking to extend Soto, Hader, Report: Mets to use six-man rotation at times in 2023, Dodgers SS Gavin Lux tears ACL, will miss entire season, Joe Musgrove fractures big toe in weight room. Like other ball clubs, the Arizona Diamondbacks have a roster of owners. Between 1998 and 2000, the Diamondbacks more than doubled their payroll from $32 million to $80 million. 26 All Arizona Has to Do Now, Right Now, Is Win; Nick Piecoro, Jerry Colangelos Shadow Remains Prominent Over Diamondbacks, azcentral.com, September 27, 2014. A trio of Diamondbacks minority owners have filed a lawsuit against the franchise's managing general partner Ken Kendrick, according to a report from Zach Buchanan of The Athletic. Phone: 602.496.1460 The Diamondbacks won the NL West in 2007 and 2011, but more often than not have finished well out of contention, including at least three last-place finishes since 2009. Besides his role as the founder of Datatel, Kendrick has spent some time as a banking executive as well. In October 1989, nearly 60 percent of Phoenix voters rejected a ballot initiative that would have allowed the issuance of $100 million of the previously authorized bonds for a domed ballpark. As of October 2017, these executives have compiled a 1222-1208 (.503) record, [1] five National League West Division titles (1999, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2011), one National League pennant (2001), and one World Series title (2001). ", "Why they would want to do that, why they would treat our clients that way, to be honest, I can't imagine," he added. For proof, look no further than the fact that it is a space-grant college, meaning that it belongs to one of 52 consortia formed in the United States for the purpose of researching various space-related topics. Under Kendricks leadership, the Diamondbacks have enjoyed significantly less success on the field. Exclusive sports coverage of Arizona high schools, Sun Devils, Suns, Cardinals and Diamondbacks plus access to USA TODAY Sports+ at no additional cost. While Martin Stone spent a half-decade in single-minded pursuit of big-league baseball for the Phoenix area, the bid that actually brought a major-league team to Arizona came together more serendipitously.