Drysdale-Japan Group Buys Visalia Team

A corporation headed by ex-Dodger pitcher Don Drysdale has purchased the Visalia Oaks of the California League, Drysdale’s agent announced Wednesday.

“The only thing left is for Don to return the signed forms,” said Nick Lampros, Drysdale’s agent, by telephone from his Los Gatos, Calif., office. “This investment venture is the first of its kind in that Drysdale has joined forces with one of the all-time greats from Japanese baseball, Tatsuro Hirooka.”

Lampros said Hirooka established himself as one of the greatest players in Japanese history with the Tokyo Giants.

“The corporation not only will own this franchise but will promote relations between the baseball communities of Japan and the United States,” Lampros said. “In fact, in cooperation with the Minnesota Twins, the parent club of the Visalia franchise, there will be four Tokyo Giants farmhands who will train and play with the Visalia club during the 1989 season.”

Lampros said he wasn’t at liberty to disclose the purchase price of the Visalia franchise. The Drysdale-headed corporation made the purchase from Stanley Simpson and Dr. Donald Higgins.