By Jeff Sullivan – MLB Editor

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Mar 11, 2011 - It wasn’t too long ago that Chuck Greenberg and Nolan Ryan were being revered as heroes. Seven months ago, Greenberg, Ryan, and Rangers Baseball Express bought the Texas Rangers and immediately saw the franchise reach its first-ever World Series. Things seemed to be going as well as they ever had, with Ryan as president and Greenberg as managing partner and CEO.

But on Friday, word came out that Greenberg would be stepping down from his position, selling his interest, and severing all ties with the organization, with Ryan assuming his responsibilities. Writes Jeff Wilson:

The stunning development that Chuck Greenberg will resign as CEO and managing partner of the Texas Rangers has been a work-in-progress for months, even though he might not have fully known that he was stepping on toes within the organization and the ownership group.

An announcement that he is leaving the organization could come today.

It would appear that this has been a long time coming, as the rest of the Rangers’ ownership group hasn’t been thrilled with Greenberg’s behavior since he came on. There were disagreements over a contract extension for GM Jon Daniels and over negotiations with free agent Cliff Lee, among a number of other things, and it all came together to make for a pretty sour situation. A sour situation that is being addressed by Greenberg stepping down. Ultimately, it was decided that he and the rest of the guys in power weren’t good fits for a positive working relationship.

And so Nolan Ryan will now take over. Greenberg never had as much power as it might’ve seemed, but this will remove any doubt that the Rangers are Nolan Ryan’s organization. Writes our Rangers blog Lone Star Ball:

This is bad.

And it is ridiculous that this sort of thing continues to dog this franchise.  On the heels of a World Series appearance, the Rangers lose out on re-signing Cliff Lee, have Michael Young demand a trade, and now have the team’s new CEO, who had just led a very public campaign to acquire the Rangers, on his way out after only 7 months.

It is as if this team is cursed.  No matter what happens, the Rangers can’t shake this Keystone Kops air about it.

Check out LSB for even more on the story.

ARLINGTON

The Texas Rangers today announced that Chuck Greenberg, Chief Executive Officer, is leaving the organization.

Team President Nolan Ryan will add the title of CEO and oversee all baseball and business operations for the organization, reporting directly to the team’s Board of Directors.

The Co-Chairmen of Rangers Baseball Express LLC, Ray Davis and Bob Simpson, issued the following statement:

“We greatly appreciate Chuck Greenberg’s hard work, professionalism and unwavering commitment to the team, our fans and the Dallas-Fort Worth communities. Chuck is a dynamic leader with superb strategic, operational and business development skills, and under his and Nolan Ryan’s direction, we have accomplished a great deal in a short time. We thank Chuck for his many contributions to the organization, and wish him well in his future endeavors. At the same time, we are very confident in the continued success and further development of the Texas Rangers under Nolan’s leadership.”

Further, the Co-Chairmen stated, “Chuck’s departure will have no effect on the team’s operation and we look forward to working with Nolan Ryan as this organization continues to grow and prosper. The baseball group has demonstrated its quest for excellence under the skillful leadership of Jon Daniels. On the business side, we also have a deep bench of experienced executives who always put our fans first and will ensure our ambitious plans for the 2011 season stay on track. We appreciate Chuck’s contributions and wish him all the best.”

Greenberg said, “I have great respect for the Texas Rangers franchise and am enormously proud of all we have accomplished together since August. Unfortunately, Nolan Ryan, the Co-Chairmen, and I have somewhat different styles. While I am disappointed we did not work through our differences, I remain wholeheartedly committed to doing what’s right for the franchise. Together we concluded it is best for all concerned for me to sell my interest back to Rangers Baseball Express and move on. I do so with a heavy heart, but with every confidence in the direction that the new management team is taking the Rangers and, with Nolan at the helm, I know this franchise will continue to thrive and reach even greater heights both on and off the field.”

“Chuck’s determination during an extremely long and complicated sales process was crucial in delivering a positive outcome for our ownership group last August,” commented Ryan, who originally joined the Rangers as President on February 6, 2008. “We owe him a great deal of thanks for those efforts and I wish him only the best.

Ryan added, “I am excited about the future of the Texas Rangers in so many ways. Our front office is comprised of talented and passionate people who come to work every day with the goal of making us the best organization in Major League Baseball, on and off the field.”

Rangers Baseball Express LLC completed its purchase of the Texas Rangers Baseball Club and related assets from Texas Rangers Baseball Partners on August 12, 2010 and is the sixth owner in club history.

Updated Mar 11, 2011 1:19 PM ET

ARLINGTON, Texas

Texas Rangers CEO Chuck Greenberg resigned from the organization Friday, just seven months after teaming up with Nolan Ryan in an investment group that bought the team for $593 million in a bankruptcy auction.

“We greatly appreciate Chuck Greenberg’s hard work, professionalism and unwavering commitment to the team, our fans and the Dallas-Fort Worth communities,” said Ray Davis and Bob Simpson, co-chairmen of Rangers Baseball Express LLC.

“Chuck is a dynamic leader with superb strategic, operational and business development skills, and under his and Nolan Ryan’s direction, we have accomplished a great deal in a short time. We thank Chuck for his many contributions to the organization, and wish him well in his future endeavors. At the same time, we are very confident in the continued success and further development of the Texas Rangers under Nolan’s leadership.”

The Rangers announced that Ryan, the Hall of Fame pitcher, will add CEO to his title and oversee all baseball and business operations, reporting to the Rangers Baseball Express LLC Board of Directors.

Greenberg cited differences with Ryan and the board in announcing his departure from the franchise.

“I have great respect for the Texas Rangers franchise and am enormously proud of all we have accomplished together since August,” Greenberg said Friday.

“Unfortunately, Nolan Ryan, the Co-Chairmen, and I have somewhat different styles. While I am disappointed we did not work through our differences, I remain wholeheartedly committed to doing what’s right for the franchise. Together we concluded it is best for all concerned for me to sell my interest back to Rangers Baseball Express and move on. I do so with a heavy heart, but with every confidence in the direction that the new management team is taking the Rangers and, with Nolan at the helm, I know this franchise will continue to thrive and reach even greater heights both on and off the field.”

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that Greenberg, a Pittsburgh sports attorney, was absent from key meetings during the past weekend in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The report speculated that his “method of operations” possibly upset key players in the franchise, including Ryan.

The Rangers made it to the World Series last season, but were defeated by the San Francisco Giants.

ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) – The front office lineup of the Texas Rangers may be changing more than the on-the field personnel this season.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram is reporting Sports Attorney Chuck Greenberg could be resigning soon as the Rangers CEO.

The newspaper says an announcement could come as soon as Friday, and that signs have pointed at a departure over the past few days.

Greenberg, along with former pitcher Nolan Ryan, has been the public face of the Rangers ownership team since their initial bid for the club began before the start of the 2010 season. 

The Greenberg/Ryan group, as it came to be called, won the Rangers in a court-ordered auction early in the morning of August 5 of last year.  The team then went on to win its first American League title and played in its first World Series weeks later.

Greenberg, a Pittsburgh-based sports attorney, also owns minor-league baseball clubs, including the Rangers new affiliate in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.