Brett brothers to purchase Quakes

As the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes prepare for their 17th season at the Epicenter, majority owner Hank Stickney announced Tuesday that the team is being sold to a group led by Bobby Brett and his brother, Hall of Famer George Brett.

The sale by Valley Baseball Club Inc. is expected to be completed this summer and must be approved by the California League, Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball.

"There's a joy and there's a sorrow about the whole thing. Twenty-three years in baseball with a lot of success and, obviously, a lot of turmoil," said Stickney, one of the men responsible for bringing the team to Rancho Cucamonga. "It's been a great run and sometimes you just have to say it's time to retire."

The Brett brothers currently own the California League's High Desert Mavericks, which they must sell because one entity is not allowed to control two franchises in the same league. The Bretts also own the Western Hockey League's Spokane Chiefs and the Bellingham Bells of the independent West Coast League.

Bobby Brett is part of another group that owns the Northwest League's Spokane Indians, while George is part-owner of the Tri-City Dust Devils in the same circuit.

"Hank's done a great job there in Rancho Cucamonga, but he is in his middle-70s and he wished to be out," California League president Joe Gagliardi said. "Bobby certainly jumped on the chance and concluded a deal."

Stickney's ownership group moved the team from San Bernardino in 1993 and the Quakes, the Class A Advanced affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, have led the league in attendance every season since.

"The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes are one of the premier franchises in Minor League Baseball and we are excited about the future of this organization," Bobby Brett said. "The stadium and community are terrific."

After 23 years as a Minor League Baseball owner, Stickney decided he no longer wanted the daily grind. Now, with family scattered across the country and with plans to travel, it's time for a change, he said.

"I only go full speed on things," said Stickney, who plans to go on an African safari and take a trip to South America. "I think it was just time that I decided to get out of everything I can, disengage and visit all the places in the world I hadn't been."

Under Stickney, the Quakes were one of the league's top organizations, said Gagliardi, who expects the franchise to remain that way under its new owners.

"They really have a good experience there," Gagliardi added. "There's activity going on seven out of nine innings and it's always been a very interesting and great franchise for the fans. Even with bad teams, they led the league in attendance."

Stickney said he thinks the new ownership group will bring new ideas that will only add to the experience at the Epicenter.

"I think Bobby will bring a fresh vitality," he continued. "I think he's got an interest in maintaining the professionalism and the innovation that we've done. There's got to be some new ideas that I didn't have."