• Loading stock data...
Thursday, October 23, 2025

The Orioles’ Rubenstein Era at Last Begins, and With Ripken Back in Fold 

  • The billionaire private equity executive receives unanimous approval of his purchase of the MLB club.
  • The Baseball Hall of Famer is now back fully after maintaining a certain distance from the Orioles.
Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

A new era for the Orioles is officially underway, and it will now include franchise icon and Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. (above) in a much larger way. 

MLB owners unanimously approved Wednesday the purchase of the team by billionaire private equity executive David Rubenstein, valuing the team and related assets at $1.725 billion. The formal assent arrived four days after the death of former team owner Peter Angelos, who leaves an impactful and complex legacy on both the franchise and Baltimore overall. 

Rubenstein arrives with big expectations, taking over a team in the midst of a large-scale renaissance on and off the field, and he has several large-scale goals for the Orioles, including potentially reaching a fundamental resolution of the long-running Mid-Atlantic Sports Network dispute with the Nationals. 

“John [Angelos, Peter’s son and former team chair] led a dramatic overhaul of the team’s management, roster, recruitment strategy, and farm system in recent years,” said Rubenstein, who continued Wednesday what has already been a more public profile than much of the Angelos era. “Our job is to build on these accomplishments to advance a world-class professional sports agenda—with eyes on returning a World Series trophy to Baltimore.”

Rubenstein and his partners are acquiring 40% of the team and operational control now, with a plan in place to purchase an additional 30% from the Angelos family over time.

Return of the Iron Man

The agreement also includes the formal return of Ripken to the franchise, as he is part of Rubenstein’s ownership group. Since the former star infielder’s retirement in 2001, he has been more tangentially tied to the Orioles, primarily through ownership of a minor league affiliate in Aberdeen, Md. Ripken showed interest at various points in a larger, renewed relationship with the team, but it never happened during the Angelos era, and in recent years he maintained a certain distance from the Orioles. 

Now, Ripken is set to participate in the first pitch ceremony at Thursday’s season opener at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, marking a very public start to his new tenure as team co-owner.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Oct 20, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) celebrates after defeating the Seattle Mariners in game seven of the ALCS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Rogers Centre.

Blue Jays Game 7 Clincher Draws Record TV Audience

LCS viewership rises, with historic totals posted in Canada and Japan.
Tony Vitello

Tony Vitello’s Stunning MLB Jump Comes With $3M Tennessee Buyout

Vitello heads to San Francisco after winning a national championship in 2024.

The AWS Outage Wreaked Havoc in Sports

Ticketmaster, FanDuel, DraftKings, and Strava all had problems.

Blue Jays $280M Payroll Pays Off With a Trip to the World..

Toronto is back in the Fall Classic for the first time in 32 years.

Featured Today

Christie's

Lou Gehrig’s $4M Jersey and the Exploding Sports Memorabilia Market

An ultra-rare sports collection is about to hit the auction block.
@chef__tezz/Instagram
October 19, 2025

Inside the NFL’s Private Chef Network

Private chefs are the unsung architects of player performance.
October 18, 2025

How Vanderbilt Went From SEC Doormat to Dark Horse CFP Candidate

After beating LSU, Clark Lea said: “Internally, we expect to win.”
May 27, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard T.J. McConnell (9) shoots a three point basket over New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) during the third quarter of game four of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Gainbridge Fieldhouse
October 18, 2025

NBA Stars Swap Wine With League Friends and Foes

A wine-exchange tradition emerged from the bubble season’s close quarters.
Tom Dundon
exclusive

Sale of Trail Blazers to Tom Dundon Will Take Multiple Years to..

Dundon is buying the team at a $4.25 billion valuation.
October 16, 2025

For Yankees, It May Be ‘Business As Usual,’ but Title Drought Lingers

GM Brian Cashman says a salary cap is not at the forefront of his mind.
October 18, 2025

Financial Behemoth Dodgers Win NL Pennant, Eye History

The biggest spenders would be MLB’s first repeat champion in 25 years.
Sponsored

Michelle Wie West: Women’s Sports Doesn’t Need Charity

The LPGA legend on redefining women’s sports and the future of golf.
Jun 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Mercedes driver George Russell (63) and Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli (12) celebrate their first and third place at the F1 Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.
October 15, 2025

Mercedes F1 Team Rides With Russell, Antonelli Despite Verstappen Link

Russell took the Formula One seat at Mercedes in 2021.
October 13, 2025

RAJ Sports Withdraws Lawsuit Over Trail Blazers Stake

RAJ Sports had sued the Cherng family, owner of Panda Express.
October 13, 2025

Titans Turnover: Brian Callahan Firing Adds to Pattern of Instability

Tennessee fired coach Brian Callahan six games into his second season.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel (5) throws as quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) looks on during rookie minicamp May 9, 2025, in Berea.
October 9, 2025

Browns Paying $41.6M to 8 QBs, but Only 2 Are on Their..

Cleveland traded Joe Flacco to the Bengals this week.