Walker family takes full ownership of Salem-Keizer Volancoes

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes baseball team is entering its 20th season in completely local hands.

Jerry Walker said Monday his family now owns 100 percent of team after buying shares from Bill Tucker.

Walker and Tucker had jointly owned the minor league club since 1989. They moved it to Keizer, Oregon, from Bellingham, Washington, in 1997.

Walker has been the local, hands-on owner for the Volcanoes. Tucker lives in New York and is retiring from baseball.

The Volcanoes are the Northwest League affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, and were an early stop in the professional careers of Pablo Sandoval, Buster Posey, Tim Lincecum and many other big leaguers.

The 2016 season opens in mid-June, shortly after the Major League Baseball draft.