Florence Freedom announce owner/president Clint Brown has died
Florence Freedom owner/president Clint Brown died, according to an announcement on the team's official Facebook page, which reads as follows:
Freedom family, it is with an incredibly heavy heart that we inform you of the passing of our President/Owner Clint Brown. As we learn more in the hours/days to come, we will pass along the information to you. At this time we ask for prayers and thoughts to be with his wife Kim and family. We will miss him greatly.
Brown purchased the team out of bankruptcy in 2004. Brown's wife, Kim, is the team's assistant general manager of operations and owner.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Clint Brown," Florence Mayor Diane E. Whalen said in a statement.
"We have worked hard to establish a mutually beneficial partnership between the city and the Florence Freedom. Clint’s goal was always to promote the team and the community and bring family fun to the fans. Clint, Kim and the entire Freedom Family are a part of our community. We mourn the loss of a member of our 'family,' and pray for strength for his family and friends during this difficult time,” Whalen said.
On the field, the Freedom won less than a third of their games in their tumultuous first two seasons. In Brown’s first year as owner (2005), and with new manager Jamie Keefe, the Freedom went 53-42 and narrowly missed out on a playoff berth.
The team has had five winning seasons since, and have advanced to the Frontier League championship series twice, finishing as league runner-up. The most recent was last season, when the Freedom won their first-ever division championship and set a franchise record for wins, going 61-35.
Brown was an avid supporter of baseball at all levels. He opened up UC Health Stadium to youth leagues and high school tournaments, including the KHSAA Ninth Region Tournament, which has been held there since 2006. When Simon Kenton won the Eighth Region last June, Brown opened the stadium to them for practice so they could get used to a minor-league ballpark with the state tournament taking place in Lexington’s minor league stadium.
“It’s just scary and crazy. My heart goes out for Kim and their kids,” said Conner head coach Brad Arlinghaus. “I’m very appreciative for what he’s done for the Ninth Region, especially the Ninth Region Tournament, but really allowing any team to come play in his stadium. My 14-year-old played fall ball there. It’s a loss for the community, a loss for his family and a loss for baseball.”
Brown was a constant presence at any event held in the stadium.
“Every time I walked in there he always had something to say to me,” Arlinghaus said. “He would ask me who I thought was coming out of the Ninth Region. I’ll miss seeing him there. He always loved talking baseball.”
The Edgewood businessman bought the team for $3 million in December 2004 after the Freedom's initial owners filed for bankruptcy. That move came after former part-owner Chuck Hildebrant admitted to forging his partners' signatures to obtain a $3 million loan from Provident Bank to build the team's stadium. Hildebrant pleaded guilty to bank fraud in January 2005.
After Brown took over, the team brought in a new staff, ordered stadium upgrades and began patching community ties.
In July 2007 the Freedom's turnaround under Brown came full circle when the club was awarded the 15th annual Frontier League All-Star Game based on its facility, central location and ability to entertain. League officials chose Florence over two other cities.
According to a July 8, 2007, Enquirer article, "Under Brown's direction, the Freedom have exorcised ghosts of their past and brought a family-friendly product to Northern Kentucky - and many have taken notice. Florence was named the Frontier League's organization of the year in 2005 and has earned two major groundskeeping awards."
The Florence Freedom hosted the All-Star Game a second time in 2016.
Condolences via Twitter from the Frontier League, and others:
Freedom advance to Frontier League finals
Former Florence Freedom Junior Arrojo signed by Miami Marlins
This timeline accompanied a 2005 story that ran in The Enquirer:
2003 - The Freedom play their first season in Hamilton because they do not have a stadium in Florence. Before the season starts, general manager Jeff Hollis and manager Chris Sabo resign. Under the direction of former Reds pitcher Tom Browning, they finish the year 27-61.
Sept. 18, 2003 - The city and Northern Kentucky Professional Baseball sign a lease agreement. Florence buys 30 acres for a new stadium, and the city issues $5.4 million in bonds to pay for it.
June 18, 2004 - The team hosts its first home game at Champion Window Field.
July 7-8, 2004 - The Freedom, with a 13-33 record, fire manager Tom Browning; he is replaced by Pete Rose Jr. on an interim basis.
July 16, 2004 - Work stops at Champion Window Field because contractors say they have not been paid.
July 21, 2004 - First lien filed against the team.
July 29, 2004 - Connie Hildebrant resigns as general manager of the team; Frontier League commissioner Bill Lee announces the league will take over the team.
August 2004 - The Freedom finish their second season at 31-65.
Aug. 11-12, 2004 - Three lawsuits, two from Fifth Third Bank and one from Provident Bank, are filed against Hildebrant and his companies. The suits total more than $4.5 million.
Aug. 23, 2004 - City of Florence sues to evict the team from the stadium; city also sues Chuck and Connie Hildebrant.
Sept. 3, 2004 - Northern Kentucky Professional Baseball files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with nearly $9 million in debt.
Dec. 14, 2004 - U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge William Howard approves a $3 million sale of Northern Kentucky Professional Baseball's assets to Edgewood businessman Clint Brown.
Jan. 6, 2005 - New owner Brown signs a new lease with the city of Florence for the stadium and pays $1.3 million into a fund to pay off the contractors.