Peter Seidler, the proprietor of the San Diego Padres who spent a whole lot of tens of millions of {dollars} on the still-elusive aim of bringing the town its first World Collection title, died Tuesday in San Diego. He’s 63 years previous.
His dying was confirmed in an announcement from the Padres. No purpose was given.
Mr. Seidler, who has twice undergone remedy for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, stated in September that he would miss video games the remainder of the season whereas he recovered from a medical process in August.
Mr. Seidler has not been shy about his ambitions to win a World Collection with the Padres, irrespective of the associated fee. Below his management, the crew spent closely on gamers in hopes of profitable a title.
“I like spending cash,” Mr. Seidler informed the San Diego Union-Tribune final 12 months. “You possibly can’t take it with you.”
The Padres franchise, which started in 1969, made historical past in 2019 when it signed third baseman Manny Machado to a 10-year contract price $300 million. On the time, that was the most important contract ever given to a free agent. In 2020, the Padres reached the postseason, ending a 14-year playoff drought. They reached the Nationwide League Championship Collection in 2022 however misplaced to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Mr. Seidler, as Commissioner Rob Manfred stated in a statement on Tuesday, “grew up in a baseball household.” He’s the grandson of Walter O’Malley, who owned the Brooklyn Dodgers and shocked the baseball world within the late Nineteen Fifties when he moved the crew to Los Angeles. He’s additionally the nephew of Peter O’Malley, who took over the Dodgers after his father and managed the crew when it gained World Collection titles in 1981 and 1988.
Peter Seidler was born on Nov. 7, 1960, in Alhambra, Calif., to Terry Seidler and Roland Seidler Jr. He earned a bachelor’s diploma in commerce from the College of Virginia, the place he was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity. He went on to obtain a Grasp of Enterprise Administration diploma from the College of California, Los Angeles.
In 1992, after working within the lending arm of Financial institution of America, Mr. Seidler is a founding father of Seidler Fairness Companions, a personal fairness funding agency. He made a fortune on the firm, managing greater than $5 billion in property, in line with the Padres.
The participation of Mr. Seidler’s involvement in sports activities started in 2012, when he fashioned an possession group to purchase the Padres from John Moores. The group included his uncle Peter O’Malley, who left the Dodgers within the late Nineties. Mr. Seidler took over as chairman of the Padres after Ron Fowler left in 2020.
As chairman of the Padres, Mr. Seidler continued an aggressive spending method, buying pitchers Yu Darvish, Blake Snell and Joe Musgrove earlier than the 2021 season. The Padres attain the playoffs in 2022.
Heading into the 2023 season, the Padres have one of many largest payrolls in Main League Baseball, and a few individuals — together with the commissioner — are questioning whether or not such spending is sustainable.
“I do not spend a lot time, if any, enthusiastic about what different individuals are considering,” Mr. Seidler stated in February. “We imagine that now we have an awesome likelihood to complete that trophy and to ship to San Diego its first parade – and with an awesome seriousness and humility.”
He informed The Union-Tribune in July that he deliberate to maintain possession of the crew in his household after his dying.
Mr. Seidler is survived by his spouse, Sheel, in addition to three youngsters, 9 siblings and his mom.
Petco Park, dwelling of the Padres, opened Tuesday afternoon to permit followers to pay their respects.