River Bandits Sold
WOODSTOCK, Va. - The Valley League announced Thursday prior to its annual season-ending meeting that it has approved the sale of the Woodstock River Bandits effective September 1, 2009.
Stu Richardson, a longtime manager and the only owner in Woodstock franchise history, has sold the River Bandits to Jim Yates of Rappahannock, Va.
Richardson, who founded the team in 2004 after a teaching and coaching career in Richmond, is stepping back to spend more time with his family.
In those six years, Richardson has seen 34 of the players that have competed in a River Bandits uniform drafted or signed by Major League Baseball.
However, Richardson's involvement with the team will not end as he will spend the 2010 season as a consultant to both Yates and new General Manager Robert "Porky" Bowman.
"I, along with my wife, Sue, would just like to thank everyone for making the past six years so special," Richardson said. "We were able to renew some old friendships as well as making some new ones. We are going to enjoy just being able to go to baseball games next summer."