International Tennis Hall of Famer Billie Jean King and partner Ilana Kloss have become members of the Los Angeles Dodgers' ownership group, the team announced Thursday.
The Dodgers plan to introduce the tennis icon King and Kloss during a press conference at Dodger Stadium on Friday.
The 74-year-old King, who won 12 grand slam singles titles and 39 overall in a legendary career on and off the court, grew up as a Dodgers fan in Long Beach and expressed her excitement to become minority owners along with her partner Kloss.
"I'm totally going to pinch myself ... I'm pinching myself already,'" King told the Los Angeles Times Thursday from her New York residence.
"When you're born and raised a Southern California kid, you dream your dreams of coming back, but how could I have ever dreamed of something like this? Joining the Dodgers is my life coming full circle.'"
In a statement released by the Dodgers, King praised the organisation for being a franchise that demonstrated inclusion, from breaking the colour barrier with Jackie Robinson and the team's many foreign player additions through the years.
In addition to joining the Guggenheim Baseball Management Group headed by Walter and including Lakers legend Magic Johnson, King and Kloss also hope to become members of the LA Sparks' ownership group, pending WNBA approval.
King's younger brother, Randy Moffitt, pitched 12 major-league seasons, 10 of them with the rival San Francisco Giants from 1972-81.
He also pitched for the Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays and went 43-52 with a 3.65 ERA and 96 saves.
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