San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler passed away Tuesday at the age of 63. Details were not provided, but in September, Seidler issued a statement to reveal he had undergone a medical procedure and was optimistic about making a recovery.
Seidler twice survived treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
“The Padres organization mourns the passing of our beloved Chairman and owner, Peter Seidler,” Padres CEO Erik Greupner said in a statement.
“Today, our love and prayers encircle Peter’s family as they grieve the loss of an extraordinary husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend. Peter was a kind and generous man who was devoted to his wife, children, and extended family.
“He also consistently exhibited heartfelt compassion for others, especially those less fortunate. His impact on the city of San Diego and the baseball world will be felt for generations. His generous spirit is now firmly embedded in the fabric of the Padres.
“Although he was our Chairman and owner, Peter was at his core a Padres fan. He will be dearly missed.”
The Los Angeles Dodgers also paid their respects, sharing, “The Dodgers wish to pay tribute to the life and work of Padres owner Peter Seidler. We know his loss will be deeply felt, and we send our most sincere condolences to the Seidler and O’Malley families.”
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred added: “I am deeply saddened by the news of Peter’s passing. Peter grew up in a baseball family, and his love of the game was evident throughout his life. He was passionate about owning the Padres and bringing the fans of San Diego a team in which they could always take pride.
“Peter made sure the Padres were part of community solutions in San Diego, particularly with the homeless community. He was an enthusiastic supporter of using the Padres and Major League Baseball to bring people together and help others. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I send my deepest condolences to Peter’s wife Sheel and their family, his Padres colleagues and the fans of San Diego.”
Seidler’s investment group bought the Padres from John Moores in 2012, but at the time business partner Ron Fowler was chairman of the team. Seidler assumed that role in November 2020 and quickly became a favorite amongst the Padres fanbase.
He spent more aggressively than previous Padres owners and helped lead the team back to the postseason. Moreover, Seidler was heavily involved in charitable work throughout the city of San Diego.
In 2022, the San Diego Union-Tribune named Seidler the San Diegan of the Year and this year he received the Herb Klein Spirit of San Diego Award from the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Peter Seidler had ties to former Dodgers owner
Seidler was the grandson of former Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley and nephew of Peter O’Malley.
During an in-game appearance on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball for a matchup between the Padres and Dodgers, Seidler said, “The Dodgers are the dragon up the freeway that we’re trying to slay.”
The Dodgers won 14 of 19 head-to-head meetings that regular season, but Seidler’s Padres got the last laugh by eliminating them in the National League Division Series.
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