Former Indians owner Jacobs dies at 84

CLEVELAND (AP) — Richard E. Jacobs, the former Cleveland Indians owner and commercial real estate developer, has died. He was 84.

Jacobs' real estate company confirmed the death on Friday, saying he had been in ill health.

Jacobs and his brother David bought the Indians from the Steve O'Neill estate in late 1986 for $40 million. David Jacobs died in 1992.

Dick Jacobs focused on restoring the struggling American League franchise's profitability and making it competitive on the field.

The team's new ballpark in downtown Cleveland became Jacobs Field when it opened in 1994, and the Indians made it to the World Series in 1995 and 1997. Jacobs owned the club until 2001.

The park was renamed Progressive Field last year.