Cleburne Railroaders Debut New Look On and Off the Field
CLEBURNE, Texas (March 17, 2021) — The Cleburne Railroaders of the American Association will launch the 2021 season this May with some added firepower in the front office.
Neil Leibman, who owns multiple professional sports teams, along with Alan Miller and Jon Ryan of the Portland Pickles have made significant investments in the team’s future growth which will ensure an increased commitment to Johnson and southern Tarrant counties. They’ll also add community reinvestment programs that will further develop youth sports, restaurants and new tourism initiatives.
“The growth of Cleburne and the kindness of the people who live here are impressive, but I’m most excited about our partners’ commitment to developing baseball at all levels,” Neil Leibman said. “Daryn and John have done a great job building a strong community asset and I hope that Jon, Alan and I can contribute positively to their growth.”
A new era of Railroaders baseball starts today.
— Cleburne Railroaders (@CRRBaseball) March 17, 2021
▶️: https://t.co/T7XsTjiVEj pic.twitter.com/77HUdCqWk4
For the 2021 season the Railroaders are excited to update the team designs to embrace the dynamics of the City of Cleburne and its railroading heritage. The Railroaders want to show baseball fans all over the world where they are from in our great state of Texas. With that in mind, the colors have been changed to those inspired by the Texas flag: Caboose Red, Steel Rail Blue and Whistle Post White.
“We wanted to create an identity that honors the 115-year heritage of the team and the region,” Alan Miller said. “Baseball and trains are the fabric of America. We couldn't be more excited to build a Texas mecca for baseball fans.”
The marks were created by Miller's COLLiDE Agency and designer Kevin McLaughlin.
“I’m so excited to become a part of the great Cleburne community. Although my playing experience has been in football, I have a huge passion for baseball. I look forward to bringing my on-field knowledge of professional sports to the Railroaders and to ultimately bring a championship trophy to the city,” said new owner Jon Ryan who played fourteen seasons in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers.
The Railroaders play in the American Association of Professional Baseball, which recently announced a partnership with Major League Baseball. The league - which stretches from Texas north to Winnipeg, Manitoba - features 12 teams including the Chicago Dogs, Milwaukee Milkmen, Kansas City Monarchs and a new addition in the Kane County Cougars for the 2021 season.
“The Cleburne Railroaders have been on an upward trajectory since Daryn and John took over, and the addition of Neil, Alan and Jon make this ownership group one of the more dynamic in all of minor league baseball,” American Association Commissioner Joshua Schaub said. “The strengths of each will benefit not only the Railroaders organization, but the city of Cleburne and its neighboring communities and will continue to position the American Association as a premier league in professional baseball.”
New owner Alan Miller’s agency COLLiDE, will take on all marketing, merchandising and brand duties. General Manager John Junker will continue to oversee operations.
“Daryn and I are excited about the addition of Neil, Alan and Jon into our ownership group,” Junker said. “This is going to be fantastic for the Railroaders, Johnson County and the American Association. They bring tremendous talent, value and experience to our organization. We are thrilled with the future opportunities this presents.”
This is the first acquisition by Leibman’s Top Tier Sports fund. The deal was structured by Bill Yates of The Sports Advisory Group.