Owner of Astros' minor-league affiliate dies at 88 from COVID-19

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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.