Texas Rangers owner Brad Corbett, right.
Brad Corbett, the former owner of the Texas Rangers from 1974 through 1980, has died at the age of 75. New sources claim Corbett perished on Christmas Eve.
Pamela Corbett Murrin, daughter of the former Texas Rangers owner, said her father passed away peacefully in his sleep. She added that he was not sick.
“The Texas Rangers are saddened to hear of the death of Brad Corbett,” said the Rangers team in an official statement. “His tenure as owner was marked by a passion and drive to bring a winning team to the fans of North Texas.” The statement added, “The spirit in which Mr. Corbett served as owner of the Rangers will be remembered always.”
Before getting into the ownership position for the Rangers, the deceased former Texas Rangers owner lived in Fort Worth, Texas, where he turned a $300,000 loan into millions from various piping and tubing businesses. This gave Corbett the financial backing necessary to pursue owning the Texas Rangers.
In 1974, two days before the start of the season, Corbett bought the Texas Rangers for $9.6 million and $1 million in assumed debt. During Corbett’s ownership, the team had six managers in six years, four of them in the 1977 season. According to the Rangers’ website, the team’s 94 victories in 1977 remained the most in their history until 1999. Also, the team had their first four winning seasons under Corbett’s direction.
All decisions had to pass through Corbett, even the player transactions, which resulted in Corbett trading away Ferguson Jenkins, Gaylord Perry, and Bert Blyleven, three future Hall of Fame pitchers.
Corbett eventually sold the team to a group controlled by Eddie Chiles, an oilman, in 1980.
Although the former Texas Rangers owner has died, his team continues to live on his memory.