Texas Rangers ownership race takes bizarre twist, keeping Ryan in mix

Nolan Ryan. Gone?

Yes. He was.

Gone as both the president of the Texas Rangers, and even more disturbing, gone as the club’s face of credibility at a time when the team suffers greatly in management image.

Nolan was outta here, several sources have confirmed, if Tom Hicks’ bold attempt to retain ownership control had been successful.

Ryan was unavailable for comment on Thursday night, and reportedly out of town.

But based on confirmation from those close to the situation, Nolan would have resigned his position if Hicks’ new ownership partnership with Dennis Gilbert, a Californian, eventually had been approved by Major League Baseball.