David Ortiz Launches Private-Equity Firm With Group Of Former Players

Former MLBer David Ortiz in his first major announcement about his retirement plans said that he and a group of former players are "launching Dugout Ventures, a private-equity fund that will focus on companies manufacturing the next generation of baseball equipment." Other investors in the fund include Baseball HOFers Nolan Ryan and Barry Larkin, as well as former MLBers Vernon Wells and Torii Hunter. The principals have "collectively invested" more than $10M in the venture. They "plan to raise" at least $50M "for investments in companies that Dugout’s athlete investors will support, endorse, and serve as expert consultants" (WSJ.com, 11/30).