Bob and Joan Lozinak, both Altoona natives who always had dreams of bringing professional baseball to their hometown were finally able to realize that dream in 1999. The original owners of the franchise from 1999-2001, Bob and Joan along with their three sons, Mike, David and Steve reacquired their hometown team on December 29, 2008.
The Lozinaks had visions of bringing professional baseball to Altoona in the late 1970s, but public opposition thwarted the idea. They then proceeded to buy the Triple-A Albuquerque Dukes from former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley and over the next 20 years (1979-2000), the Dukes captured six Pacific Coast League titles and numerous awards for club operations. Lozinak is among only a handful of minor league baseball owners to have been awarded the prestigious John H. Johnson Trophy twice. The Johnson Trophy is awarded annually to the top franchise in Minor League Baseball in the U.S. and Canada. The Dukes were presented the honor in both 1984 and 1991. Additionally, Albuquerque also captured the Larry McPhail Trophy for the country's top promotional effort in 1987.
Lozinak sold the Dukes in 2000 so he could focus his efforts on his new franchise, the Altoona Curve.
After selling the Curve in 2002, the family purchased the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, and would enjoy Double-A affiliations in the Southern League with both the Chicago Cubs and the Seattle Mariners before the team was sold in the early months of the 2008 season.
Bob was born in Altoona on June 4, 1937. His college education was interrupted by five years of service in the Army during the 1960's. Lozinak completed Officer Candidate's School in Lawton, Oklahoma and was honorably discharged as a 1st Lieutenant. Upon his discharge from the Army, Lozinak returned to finish his education at St. Francis College in Loretto, PA and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in History.
After college, Bob and Joan became McDonald's franchisees in 1969 and their role as an owner-operator continues with stores in Hartford County, Maryland.
Since the purchase of their first McDonalds franchise, Joan has been actively involved in many phases of the operation of the restaurant, whether it means balancing the restaurant budget or appearing at numerous functions within the community.
Joan, a graduate of Altoona Catholic High School, currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic High School in Altoona. She plays a role in long-term planning, policy development, financing, capital improvements, public relations and marketing, development and alumni relations, and budgetary management.
Joan has always been a participating member in the Catholic church serving as either a Eucharistic Minister or singing in the choir.
The couple can often be found somewhere inside Peoples Natural Gas Field on game days enjoying Curve baseball with fellow fans and enjoying the fun, affordable family atmosphere they always dreamed of providing through the game of baseball in their hometown.
