Former New Orleans minor league baseball majority owner Lou Schwechheimer dead at 62 from COVID-19 complications

The news out of Wichita is sobering.

Former New Orleans Zephyrs/Cakes owner Lou Schwechheimer has passed away at the age of 62 from complications related to COVID-19.

The Wind Surge issued a statement announcing the sad news this afternoon.

Incredibly sad news just released by the Wichita Wind Surge, as the team announces that owner Lou Schwechheimer has passed away at the age of 62 due to complications related to COVID-19.

Be on the lookout soon on @kansasdotcom for a story. pic.twitter.com/0RzMFQ8n6k

— Taylor Eldridge (@tayloreldridge) July 29, 2020

Schwechheimer purchased the Zephyrs from Donald Beaver in 2016. He had big plans for the team here but those plans never materialized and he moved his team from the Shrine on Airline in Metairie to Wichita following the 2019 season in the midst of dwindling attendance and a lack of needed stadium improvements.

Schwechheimer presided over the name change from the Zephyrs, which the franchise was known as from its arrival from Denver in 1993 to the ill-advised Baby Cakes moniker, which his organization came up with following the 2016 season.

The Wind Surge never got off the ground at its new downtown Riverfront Stadium this year due to the cancellation of the Minor League baseball season due to coronavirus.

Schwechheimer also owned the Pawtucket Red Sox.