Ken Kendrick

Earl Gentry "Ken" Kendrick, Jr. (born September 2, 1943) is an American businessman who is the principal owner and managing general partner of the National League's Arizona Diamondbacks. He became part-owner with the team's inception in 1995. He has been managing general partner since 2004, overseeing day-to-day operations and acting as the organization’s designated representative when the Major League Baseball owners convene.[1] Prior to his position with the team, Kendrick founded Datatel, Inc., a software development company, and served as a banking industry executive in Texas. He has a net worth of $1 billion as of June 2022.[2]

Ken Kendrick
Born (1943-09-02) September 2, 1943
Princeton, West Virginia, U.S.
Alma materWest Virginia University (BBA)
OccupationBusinessman
Known forOwner of Arizona Diamondbacks
Founder of Datatel, Inc.

Diamondbacks tenure

During his tenure, the D-backs have twice captured the National League West Division (2007, 2011), reaching the NLCS for just the second time in their history in 2007.[3] Under Kendrick’s leadership, through equity and debt restructures, the team has eliminated more than $200 million of debt.[4]

After leading negotiations on the team's multi-billion dollar television rights deal with FOX Sports Arizona, Kendrick authorized the D-backs to sign pitcher Zack Greinke to a six-year deal with the largest annual average value in Major League Baseball history.[5]

During Kendrick's time as Managing General Partner, the Diamondbacks have hosted an All-Star Game at Chase Field in 2011, and opened a Spring Training facility that is widely considered the finest in all of baseball in Salt River Fields at Talking Stick.[6]

In 2013, ESPN the Magazine rated the D-backs as the No. 6 team in Major League Baseball in its Ultimate Standings, which gauges success both on and off the field [7] and Yahoo! has referred to the Arizona Diamondbacks as the "best workplace in sports."[8]

Personal life

In politics, Kendrick and his wife Randy have made donations to conservative groups connected with the Koch brothers. Kendrick and his wife raised funds for Marco Rubio during the 2016 Republican primaries.[9] According to FEC filings, he has donated to many candidates who have challenged the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election, including Arizona U.S. Congressman Paul Gosar and Andy Biggs. He also donated money to Colorado U.S. Congresswoman Lauren Boebert.

As of 2016, Kendrick is the owner of the T206 Honus Wagner baseball card once owned by Wayne Gretzky, considered the most valuable trading card in the world.[10] The Wagner card and 34 other iconic and rare baseball cards in Kendrick’s collection, titled "The D-backs Collection," were previously displayed at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.

References
  1. "Ken Kendrick, Managing General Partner, Arizona Diamondbacks, speaks at Terry Leadership Speaker Series - Multimedia - Terry College of Business - University of Georgia". Archived from the original on 2016-03-02. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  2. "Ken Kendrick". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  3. "Arizona Diamondbacks Team History & Encyclopedia".
  4. "Ken Kendrick, Managing General Partner, Arizona Diamondbacks, speaks at Terry Leadership Speaker Series - Multimedia - Terry College of Business - University of Georgia". Archived from the original on 2016-03-02. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  5. "Diamondbacks formally introduce pitcher Zack Greinke".
  6. "Salt River Fields At Talking Stick receives prestigious honor from Architectural Record Magazine". WSMV. Archived from the original on 2016-03-01. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  7. "No. 6: Arizona Diamondbacks". 11 September 2013.
  8. "Arizona Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall won't let his cancer change the best workplace in sports". 31 January 2012.
  9. Gold, Mateo (3 June 2015). "With some donors doubting Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio seizes an opening". Washington Post. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  10. "Holy Grail: The T206 Honus Wagner". Retrieved 10 August 2016.
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