McAdam: Former Pawsox GM-VP, now owner of two minor league franchises, patiently waiting for game to re-start

Baseball's shutdown in the Age of the Coronavirus means different things to different people.

At the major league level, it means a drop in profits for the likes of John Henry, the Steinbrenner family and Jerry Reinsdorf.

But each has the resources to survive for a few months, or, should it be necessary, the rest of the season. Some have other business interests, and their net worth protects them against a temporary economic downturn.

At the minor league level, however, where the pockets aren't nearly as deep, the stakes are much higher. While minor league owners don't pay their players -- that responsibility lies with their major league affiliates -- there are still huge costs associated with running a business and competing for the entertainment dollar.

That goes double when you're operating a newly relocated franchise in a just-completed ballpark. And that's where Lou Schwechheimer finds himself these days.

For 35 years, Schwechheimer worked for the Pawtucket Red Sox, eventually becoming general manager. But after leaving Pawtucket, Schwechheimer became an owner himself. He owns the Tampa Bay Rays' Class A affiliate in the Florida State League in Port Charlotte, Fla., the Charlotte Stone Crabs.



And after owning and operating the Miami Marlins' Triple A affiliate in New Orleans for the last four years, it was determined that the ballpark there -- like Pawtucket's McCoy, a World War II era-relic, further damaged by Hurricane Katrina -- was no longer sustainable, Schwechheimer moved the affiliate to Wichita and was all set to open Riverfront Stadium, a 10,000-seat home to the rechristened Wichita Wind Surge on April 14.

Then the coronavirus struck, resulting in a shutdown throughout baseball -- both in the big leagues and throughout the minors.

So now, Schwechheimer --  a Massachusetts native and a graduate of UMass -- and his staff wait. Patiently.

"We have two staffs (one in Port Charlotte, one in Wichita),'' said Schwechheimer, "that are both functioning with the mindset that this, too, shall pass. We're following the leadership of Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball and preparing for the eventuality that normalcy will return. One of the great lessons I learned from Ben Mondor (who owned the Pawtucket Red Sox for almost 40 years) was to celebrate the good but prepare for the fact that there are bumps in the road.

"As we created these entities, we were very fiscally prudent and prepared for a time when we need to. In terms of our operations, we are on target for Opening Day, whenever that comes. Should it be May, we're prepared. Should it be longer, we're prepared. We're just staying the course.''

At both affiliates, Schwechheimer has had most of the staff work from home, to observe the social distancing introduced to combat the virus. In Port Charlotte, where the Stone Crabs are already-established, the delay to the season can be weathered.

But with a new franchise in a new city, the delay is more costly in Wichita. Last November, when the team put merchandise on sale at its gift shop, the line stretched down the block. More recently, before the pandemic fully struck, the team sold out is home opener in a minutes.

Riverfront Stadium was constructed in 11 months, completed in 11 months -- on time and on budget. Larry Lucchino, himself getting ready to shift the Pawsox to Worcester in 2021, has visited once and is due to tour the facility again on Monday.

Now, however, no one knows for sure when that opener will take place.

"For us, it's don't-get-too-low, don't-get-too-high,'' he said. "That's the way we've always operated."

In his heart, Schwechheimer has a deep, abiding faith in the sport to overcome any obstacles thrown its way. Together with team president Jay Miller, who's operated minor league teams and ballparks in Texas and elsewhere, they have almost 80 years of experience in the minors.

"Baseball is such an amazing game,'' he marveled. "Our message to our staff is, 'We've been through 9/11. We've been through the great economic meltdown of 2007. We've been through a lot of American tragedy and heartache.' But for a century and a half, baseball has led America out of the darkest events. I really believe, in the bottom of my heart, baseball will lead America out of this dark time.''

In time, the new ballpark will also host football, concerts and may include a skating rink. With just 70 home dates (in a "normal'' season), minor league teams have to be creative when it comes to hosting other revenue-generating events.

"At all levels, whether you're a short-season club or a Triple A club in a great market,'' said Schwechheimer, "the challenge has always been to maximize your opportunities with creative promotion and get people engaged. You have to make your ballpark a community gathering place 12 months a year.

"But the challenges now are enormous with no certainty relative to a defined Opening Day or the numbers of game we'll play. We've hired over 500 people for food service, ticket takers, field maintenance and parking lot attendants. They're a wonderful group of folks who have joined the baseball family, just awaiting word for the green light. So there are significant challenges to weather this storm.

"In our lifetime, this is unprecedented. How far and how deep this will dig into the American way of life, continues to remain uncertain. But I've always said you can't control the unknown. It's important to stay calm, keep that even keel and provide some calm in the storm.  Ultimately, when we get a signal that it's slowly returning to normal, we want to be part of the joy of bringing life back to normal. Because if you look at the times over American history, when baseball was needed most, baseball always shone at the end of the day.''