The Oakland Ballers are facing perhaps the most ironic lawsuit in recent memory.
Just before the season began, the defending Pioneer League champions were sued by the former owner of a glass company over damage — including broken windows — allegedly caused by balls flying over the left-field fence of Raimondi Park.
Last month, Ajor Property Group, which owns a building directly across the street from Raimondi Park, filed a lawsuit in Alameda County against the Ballers and the city of Oakland. The plaintiff alleges the city and team failed to act quickly enough to prevent baseballs from breaking windows, denting the roof and causing other damage at the building at 1661 20th St., leading it to ask for at least $350,000 in damages.
The city of Oakland declined SFGATE’s request for an interview, citing the pending litigation. But Ballers co-owner Paul Freedman did speak to SFGATE last week — which he said he was doing against the advice of his legal counsel — not just because he wants the Ballers to be transparent about all things with their organization but also because he sees this as indicative of a larger issue in his hometown.
“We’ve been trying to get people to viscerally understand that Oakland has its challenges,” Freedman told SFGATE. “There’s a lot of people in the Bay Area, like, why is it so hard to get some things done in Oakland? I think this story, you know, tells a lot about that.”…