HOUSTON -- The partnership buying the Astros is made up mostly of hometown baseball fans.
Jim Crane may be the heart of the group buying the Astros, but there are ten principal investors. All of them or from, or live in Houston.
Four are in Energy, including Bill Morgan, who is the Morgan in Kinder Morgan.
There are also three attorneys, including John Eddie Williams --one of the Texas attorneys who settled with the Tobacco industry.
"There is a love of the community and a love of baseball. I think that this is going to be a real success story," John Eddie Williams, an Astros principal investor.
Others include steel business owner John Hauck and Jeff Hines, the son of real estate mogul Gerald Hines, who developed numerous Houston landmark buildings, including the Williams Tower. Investment banker Doug Bauer is also in the group.
"Jim has put together a great group of people that are based here in Houston (and) have substantial businesses here in Houston," said Doug Bauer, an Astros principal investor.
There are also a number of smaller investors from a range of backgrounds.
"[I] made my wealth being a Taco Bell franchise," said Sean Taylor.
There are certainly more lucrative investment options out there.
"You have to be a fan of baseball to get over that hurdle, if you will," Bauer said.
That’s no problem for the group members.
"I love baseball. I played baseball myself," said John McVaney.
