A couple of minor league baseball teams in northeast Wisconsin will be under new ownership starting in 2021.
The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and Fond du Lac Dock Spiders – owned by Appleton Baseball Club, Inc. – have an agreement to be sold to Third Base Ventures, LLC., a deal which could be finalized by January 1st, 2021. Third Base Ventures is a local group made up of majority owner Craig Dickman along with minority owners Brad Raaths and Rob Zerjav. Zerjav is currently Team President and will continue in that position as well as CEO. Third Base Ventures has said little change in the current staff is expected.
Part of the agreement includes the sale of Fox Cities Stadium to the group which ensures that the Timber Rattlers will remain in Appleton. The stadium is currently owned by the Fox Cities Amateur Sports Authority, the group responsible for its construction. The new ownership cites financial strain of the pandemic as the reason for the sale as the 2020 seasons of both teams were cancelled. The cost of the sale was not revealed.
