HOUSTON -- Franci Crane, the wife of Houston businessman Jim Crane, looks forward to starting a new chapter Tuesday when her husband begins his first day as the owner of the Astros.
Major League Baseball approved the final sale of the Astros to the group led by Jim Crane last Thursday at the owners' meetings.
Although the lengthy, six-month process to get final approval was filled with speculation and allegations regarding previous business practices, Franci Crane admires the perseverance and strength exhibited by her husband while awaiting MLB's answer.
"Jim is amazingly strong," Franci Crane said. "He has a real inner sense of himself. Regardless of what false things were said about him publically, Jim knows who he is. He has been truly, remarkably even keel throughout it all. There were days when the pile-on factor was a lot. He never felt like giving up. His determination increased. Jim really believes that he and his investor group can turn the Houston Astros around into winners.
"He loves baseball. He knows the game. He kept believing in himself. He is a very positive person and knew things would turn out right in the end. People will understand what is really true."
Franci Crane provided a strong insight into the qualities and characteristics the fans will be getting from her husband as owner.
"The fans are getting a really big-hearted, generous, spirited, smart, dedicated and devoted human being," she said. "What I would say to the fans is they will grow to love him. Jim is not going to be like Drayton [McLane Jr.] in the public eye all the time. That isn't his personality. This is not a good thing or a bad thing. It's a difference. People react to that kind of stuff differently.
"Jim is more of a behind-the-scenes guy. He doesn't want the attention focused on him. He wants it focused on the players and those it should be focused on. I think the fans are going to respect him. He's not a glory hound. He's not a look-at-me kind of guy."
Jim Crane's love for baseball is widely recognized.
He grew up as a big fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and was a standout pitcher at Central Missouri State University, posting a 21-8 record with a 2.42 ERA from 1973-76 for head coach Robert Tompkins.
As for Franci Crane, she has a passion for baseball, but had no idea -- until in recent years -- that owning a Major League Baseball team may emerge as a legitimate possibility for her husband.
"I didn't think about it," she said. "With Jim's intelligence in the business world, along with his love for the game, I thought it could happen. I do like baseball very much. It's fun to go out to the ballpark. To me, it's one of the more enjoyable team sports."
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