Behind the deal: How Nolan Ryan’s company got stake in another minor league baseball team

Elmore Sports could have sold the San Antonio Missions minor league baseball team to a Central Texas company founded by Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, who played for the Houston Astros from 1980 through 1988.

Instead, it struck a deal with a larger group that includes several prominent San Antonio business leaders and significant connections to Major League Baseball.

While terms of the sale were not disclosed, the fact that the investor group has significant ties to San Antonio weighed in its favor,…