Eddie DeBartolo Jr.'s run as San Francisco 49ers' owner was the most successful stretch the franchise has ever had, notably including five Super Bowl wins. Things ended badly, as he plead guilty in 1998 to failing to report a felony after former Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards allegedly demanded $400,000 from DeBartolo for a riverboat casino license. In 2020, DeBartolo received a presidential pardon.
DeBartolo was barred from active ownership of the 49ers for a year. He later transferred control of the franchise to his sister, Denise DeBartolo York. His nephew Jed York currently runs the show (much to the ongoing chagrin of 49ers' fans).
DeBartolo, now 78 years old, has been pretty much out of sight and out of the public eye since the incident that effectively ended his ownership of the 49ers. But that may be changing.
Eddie DeBartolo Jr. may be getting back into the sports franchise ownership game
There has been recent pressure, from MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and some other owners, on Tampa Bay Rays owner Stu Stenberg to sell the team. A plan to build a new $1.3 billion stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida has now been officially walked away from by Stenberg as of Thursday, apparently in deference to not being able to bear additional costs brought on by a delay in legislative approval for the $600 million portion that was to be publicly funded.
The Rays' current home, Tropicana Field, was destroyed a hurricane last year. So they will play the coming season at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the spring home of the New York Yankees. The stadium issue for the franchise is nothing new, but this latest ordeal seems sure to push an ownership change.
Evan Drellich of The Athletic recently pointed to DeBartolo as a possible buyer for the Rays.
"One of the groups interested in buying the Rays is the family of Edward DeBartolo Jr., which has roots in Tampa, three people briefed on the discussions said. Members of the DeBartolo family own the San Francisco 49ers, although Edward Jr. is no longer involved with that team. Former New York Yankees minority owner Joe Molloy is involved in the DeBartolo effort as well, but does not carry the same financial weight as DeBartolo."
Though it's not possible, 49ers fans would surely love to see DeBartolo get back involved with their team. But a good sports franchise owner is a good sports franchise owner wherever they might be, and that landscape would be undeniably better if DeBartolo can get back in by buying the Rays.
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