Major League Baseball

Ex-NFL great Bettis could join Rangers ownership group

Published Jan. 29, 2010 7:21 p.m. ET

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Nolan Ryan, one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, is an investor in the Texas Rangers’ new ownership group.

Another star athlete -- who is perhaps bound for a different sport’s Hall of Fame -- may join him.

Former NFL running back Jerome Bettis has previously partnered with Pittsburgh attorney Chuck Greenberg in the ownership of minor league teams. Now that Greenberg has an agreement to purchase the Rangers, Bettis is exploring the possibility of joining him as a minority investor.

One team source said talks with Bettis aren’t serious at this point. But the sides should have time to work out details, since ownership of the club hasn’t been transferred from Tom Hicks yet.

“We’re looking at it,” Bettis said.

Initially, Bettis said, he didn’t give serious thought to joining the Rangers’ group. Then he talked with Greenberg.

“I wanted to get more involved after I met with Chuck and saw his passion for the team,” Bettis said.

Mario Lemieux, the NHL Hall of Famer and Pittsburgh Penguins owner, also invested in Greenberg's minor league teams. But he has no intention of getting involved with the Texas ownership group, a Penguins spokesperson said Friday.

FOXSports.com NFL writer Alex Marvez contributed to this story.

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