Find out the latest on COVID-19's impact on the sports world and when sports are returning by subscribing to Breaking News push notifications in the Sports and COVID-19 section.
Tri-City ValleyCats principal owner and chairman Bill Gladstone died Thursday from COVID-19 complications at age 88, the team announced Friday.
The ValleyCats are a Single-A affiliate of the Houston Astros.
"Bill Gladstone left an indelible mark on the game of baseball and the ValleyCats organization," ValleyCats president Rick Murphy said in a release. "Bill was an inspirational leader, partner, and fan of the game."
Tri-City won three New York-Penn League championships during Gladstone's tenure. He was named the King of Baseball by Minor League Baseball in 2015, a title recognizing outstanding dedication and service to the industry.
Gladstone was also a former board member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
"With a devotion to baseball and a background in art, Bill provided valued insight to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum as a longtime trustee," Hall of Fame chairman Jane Forbes Clark said in a statement.
