River Cats owner Arthur Savage dies at 58

SACRAMENTO, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- Arthur Lynn Savage, owner of the Sacramento River Cats minor league baseball team, has died at his Sacramento home, his family said. He was 58.

Savage, who owned the team with his wife, Susan, ran one of the most successful minor league franchises in the country, The Sacramento Bee reported Sunday. Savage suddenly became ill Saturday and collapsed at home, a team representative said.

"He had a clean bill of health. We were all very optimistic, so as you can imagine, this came as kind of a shock," said his son, Jeff Savage.

During 10 seasons in Sacramento, the River Cats won eight division titles, four Pacific Coast League championships and two Triple A championships.

Savage was named The Sporting News Minor League Executive of the Year in 2000 and the team was given the Bob Freitas Award for excellence in Minor League Baseball for the 2004 season.

"He had a great vision and passion and level of perseverance unlike anybody I've worked for before." Alan Ledford, the team's president, general manager and chief operating officer, said.

In 2006, Savage, a Texas native, said: "We provide fan-friendly entertainment that is affordable, which you can't always do in major-league sports. And we can. People love the River Cats; they love coming to Raley Field, and that's been a fun part of it for myself."

Savage's sons, Jeff and Brent, work for the team. Jeff said his mother will retain the controlling ownership of the team.