Coors Might Join Pitch for Denver Major League Club : Baseball: Company reportedly set to become partner in minor league team as first step.

A new baseball ownership group is close to being formed in Denver comprised of the Adolph Coors Co. of Golden and the Dikeou family, owners of the Denver Zephyrs, it was reported today.

The Denver Post said an announcement may be made Thursday.

Robert Klugman, vice president of development for Coors, said Coors would be interested in a limited partnership with the Dikeou family to form a new baseball ownership group.

The Dikeous have operated Denver’s minor league Zephyrs baseball franchise for five years and have announced intentions to bring a major league franchise to Denver.

Denver has been seeking major league baseball for 30 years but has been unsuccessful.

Klugman said Tuesday that Coors and the Dikeous want to act on the plan to bring Coors into Denver’s baseball ownership. If the deal is consummated, Coors would become a partner with the Zephyrs immediately and participate in the ownership of Denver’s minor league franchise, the Post said. The Zephyrs play in the Triple-A American Assn.

“There are a few details that have to be sorted out,” Klugman told the Post. “But something very well could happen in the near future.”

John Dikeou, the principal member of the Zephyrs ownership, made it clear during last month’s winter meeting of major league baseball owners that he was trying to form an ownership group to meet baseball’s franchise criteria.

One criterion for future franchises calls for a local ownership group with roots in the community.

Current plans call for the National League to add two franchises, with the league providing details some time this year.