Jason Freier is the chairman and Chief executive officer of Hardball Capital, which is based in Atlanta.[1]
On February 20, 2006, Hardball Capital purchased the Fort Wayne Wizards.[2] Following the 2008 season, the Wizards were renamed to the Fort Wayne TinCaps, in reference to Johnny Appleseed who lived in Fort Wayne and was buried in the city.[2][3]
In July 2006, Hardball Capital purchased the Salem Avalanche.[4] The team was bought for $8 million from Kelvin Bowles who had owned the team for 20 years.[5] In December 2007, Hardball sold the team to Fenway Sports Group.[6]
On March 20, 2008, Hardball Capital purchased the Savannah Sand Gnats of the South Atlantic League.[7][8][9] In August 2015, Hardball moved the Savannah Sand Gnats to Columbia, South Carolina and they became the Columbia Fireflies and moved to the Carolina League.[10]
In March 2015, Hardball purchased the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Double-A (baseball) Southern League.[11] There were over 15 members of the ownership group.