MLB Gets Its First Openly Gay Owner

The Chicago Cubs may not have won a World Series since 1907, but they accomplished a first when they completed the team's purchase by the Ricketts Family. That sale was finalized on Oct. 27th, and with that, the Cubs are the first Major League Baseball team to have an openly gay owner.

Among the purchasers is Laura Ricketts, an out lesbian who is also on the board of the gay rights organization Lambda Legal. She came out to her family in her 30s. The Ricketts family has 95 percent controlling interest in the team, Wrigley Field and 25 percent of Comcast Sports Net.

Of the Ricketts family, Pete, Todd, Tom and Laura make up the board of directors, with Tom as chairman. Ricketts said

"I think for a long time I wasn't really out to myself growing up in Omaha, Neb., to a Catholic conservative family. It took me a while to come out to myself and not long after that I came out to them. I think that it really couldn't of been a better experience. They were all immediately supportive. ... I have been really really fortunate in that regard."

Watch an introductory video for the new ownership: