W
hen Art Savage and his partners purchased a
But taking on a larger role when his father died was
Minor-League Baseball team and moved it to a difficult. “It was like drinking from a firehose at first,” Jeff
new stadium in West Sacramento in 2000, his says. “I ended up taking on roles that were not quite my
wife, Susan Savage, never imagined that one strong suit. … Gradually, you start to figure it out and sur-
day she would own and operate the Sacramento round yourself with the right people to complement your
River Cats.
skills and fill the gaps.”
“Art was the love of my life, but we were never business
Now Jeff works with his mother every day. “I have had
partners,” Susan says. “Certainly, we discussed the team, the unique experience of working for both my mother and
and we were very close, but I was never a part of the busi- father,” he says. “Both are great in their own way; they
ness until his cancer diagnosis. Even then, I worked down each have different styles and strengths. My mother is de-
in the team store, and not until his death did I have a formal termined, and when she sets her mind to it, there is no
role in the management of the team.”
stopping her. She is not afraid to take risks, and when a
Art, who was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2007 but decision is made … it is time to move forward and execute
was pronounced cancer free in 2008, collapsed suddenly it. … (It) has been a great learning experience.”
and died in his East Sacramento home on Nov. 21, 2009. He
The River Cats recently completed one of their most
was 58. Susan became majority
successful seasons, beating the
owner and CEO, and she says it
Columbus (Ohio) Clippers to
wasn’t easy. “The first few years
win the Triple-A National Cham-
operating the team was a huge
pionship for the third time. They
learning curve for me,” she says.
won the Pacific Northern di-
“Discussing the team over din-
vision, making the playoffs for
ner is very different from run-
the first time since 2012, then
ning the day-to-day operations.
beat the Las Vegas Aviators in
In the early years, I spent a lot
the opening round and swept
of time asking myself, ‘What
the Round Rock (Texas) Express
would Art do?’”
to win the Pacific Coast League
Susan’s sons, Jeff, 42, and
championship, their first PCL
Brent, 38, work for the team too.
title since 2008. They also drew
Jeff is president, overseeing the
549,440 fans during the regular
operations side of the business.
season, eighth in all of the minor
Jeff Savage, president,
“I love the fact that Jeff is in-
leagues. And Forbes magazine
Sacramento River Cats
volved and loves the River Cats
in 2016 valued the River Cats at
as much as Art did,” Susan says.
$49 million, the highest for any
Brent is coordinator of the mer-
Minor-League Baseball team.
chandise department’s website and research and has, Su-
As for the continuation of family ownership, Jeff and
san says, “worked for the team longer than either Jeff or me.” his wife Ulrike have two children, now 11 and 8. “I’d love
Jeff says he always wanted to do what his father did for the kids to work for the team once they are old enough
— run sports teams. When Jeff was growing up, Art was and to eventually own the team,” he says. “However, it
president of the Cleveland Cavaliers of the NBA and CEO needs to make sense for everyone involved, and they need
of the San Jose Sharks of the NHL. But when Jeff graduat- to have that desire to carry on what my father started.” n
ed from Southern Methodist University, he took a position
at Deloitte in San Francisco. He says he gradually became Tom Couzens is executive editor for Comstock’s. On Twitter
involved in the sports business, working with his father on @TomCouzens.
special projects, before eventually deciding to move to Sac-
ramento and focus on the River Cats.
“I have had the unique experience
of working for both my mother
and father. Both are great in
their own way; they each have
different styles and strengths.
... (It) has been a great learning
experience.”
October 2019 | comstocksmag.com
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