ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak denied a rumor that the franchise is up for sale.
The rumor was started by a comment made by radio broadcaster Mike Shannon during the team's 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday afternoon.
"Everything I understand, this is not true," Mozeliak says. "I think I would know if something like this is happening. I was speaking to (Bill DeWitt Jr.) yesterday on a number of topics and this did not come up. It's a surprise, but I do not believe it to be true."
Although Mozleiak says he isn't "part of the family," he says the rumor is not true.
"There's also other owners that are part of the investment group," Mozeliak says. "I think this isn't just as simple as boiling it down to understanding this is an inherited tax issue. I think overall, I feel like the DeWitt family is still very much involved in the day-to-day, and excited to be, and I think they will be in the future."
Shannon said during the game broadcast on KMOX, "Word on the street is they're gonna sell this franchise. We won't get a better duo than the two DeWitts."
He was speaking of Cardinals principal owner Bill DeWitt Jr. and his son, Cardinals president Bill DeWitt III.
According to St. Louis Post-Dispatch writer Derrick Goold, Bill DeWitt III says there is "absolutely no truth to that comment."
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DeWitt Jr. has served as chairman and CEO of the Cardinals since 1996, when he led the purchase of the team from Anheuser-Busch, and he and his immediate family acquired controlling interest in the team. He's a St. Louis native and graduate of St. Louis Country Day School.
He was a bat boy for the St. Louis Browns from 1949-51, while his father was the majority owner of the Browns. His father began his career with the Cardinals in 1916 and worked in a variety of executive positions under Branch Rickey until the early 1940s when he joined the St. Louis Browns as General Manager.
DeWitt Jr. has also been a prior owner of the Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers.
DeWitt III was named President of the Cardinals in March, 2008 and oversees all aspects of the team and its affiliates, including the Memphis Redbirds, Springfield Cardinals, Palm Beach Cardinals, Bally Sports Midwest, and Ballpark Village.
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