West Coast hip hop icon Warren G has joined the ownership group of the Long Beach Baseball Club, bringing star power to a new independent professional team planned for his hometown, it was announced today.
The Long Beach Baseball Club, backed by Innovation Baseball Partners, is working with the city of Long Beach and Cal State Long Beach to make Blair Field its home, with a target debut in the 2026 Pioneer Baseball League season.
The rapper, songwriter and producer — born Warren Griffin III — said the move is about more than business.
“This is more than just owning part of a team, it’s about giving back to my city,” Warren G said in a statement. “Long Beach shaped me, and I want to help build something positive for the next generation. Baseball brings people together, and that’s what I’m all about.”:
Organizers said the club will build a game-day experience that reflects Long Beach’s energy and culture, blending baseball with music, food and community events.
“Warren brings not only star power, but a genuine commitment to community,” said Paul Freedman, co-founder of Innovation Baseball Partners. “He shares our vision of baseball as a way to bring people together, and we’re thrilled to have him as part of the Long Beach Baseball Club family.”
The Pioneer League, founded in 1939, operates independently as a Major
League Baseball Partner League. Adding Long Beach would mark a key step in
the league’s West Coast expansion, which already includes franchises in Oakland
and Yuba-Sutter.