
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, October 26, 1995                   TAG: 9510260077
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-3 SPORTS   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

VA. GROUP NEAR ASTROS DEAL

Telecommunications executive William Collins III is close to completing a deal to buy the Houston Astros and move the team to RFK Stadium in the spring, The Washington Post reported in today'sTHURSDAY'S editions.

The newspaper said Astros chairman Drayton McLane has agreed to sell the team to Collins' group of investors, but the price still must be negotiated.

The Post, citing officials familiar with the talks, said the price probably will be between $150 million and $160 million. The Astros have lost $65 million during the past three years.

``An agreement in principle has been made,'' said George Barton IV, chairman of the Virginia Baseball Stadium Authority. ``There has been a handshake.''

Astros spokesman Tyler Barnes said there have been ``initial talks'' between the team and Collins, but ``it is not a done deal.''

Collins intends to play at RFK until a stadium is built in Northern Virginia.

On Sunday, acting commissioner Bud Selig and National League president Leonard Coleman said McLane would be asked to try to sell the team to buyers who would keep the team in Houston.

by CNB