Tucson Sidewinders owner Jay Zucker and his team's mascot, Sandy Sidewinder, pose for a photo on Aug. 8, 2000. Xavier Gallegos / Tucson Citizen

 Xavier Gallegos / Tucson Citizen

The Tucson businessman sold the Triple-A Tucson Sidewinders to a group who moved the franchise to Reno Nevada, in 2008, and although the Tucson Padres played at Kino Stadium from 2011-13, it effectively ended minor-league baseball’s 40-year run in Tucson. 

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