Padres owner Peter Seidler dies at 63 years old
San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler died Tuesday morning at 63 years old.
The Padres announced the news of his death alongside a statement from CEO Erik Greupner.
“The Padres organization mourns the passing of our beloved chairman and owner, Peter Seidler,” Greupner said via the 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."
The Padres did not announce a cause of death. The team announced in September that Seidler had undergone an unspecified medical procedure in August and would not be at the ballpark for the remainder of the season. Seidler was a two-time survivor of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that Seidler had been dealing with an illness for months and that his family requested that his cause of death remain private at this time.
Seidler was the grandson of Walter O'Malley, who owned the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers from 1950 until his death in 1979. He was part of a group that bought the Padres from John Moores in 2012. He purchased the majority stake in the team from Ron Fowler in 2020.
Under Seidler's ownership, the Padres spent aggressively to build a team with hopes of competing for a World Series championship. With lucrative contracts like a $280 million deal with Xander Bogaerts and $350 million deal with Manny Machado, the Padres had the third-highest payroll in baseball last season, a stark contrast from Padres payrolls under previous ownership.
Peter Seidler seemed to embody a belief more owners should share: leveraging your money to own a baseball team should be fun. https://t.co/o5eQjYpqZh
— Hannah Keyser (@HannahRKeyser) November 14, 2023
In addition to owning the Padres, Seidler was the founder and managing partner of private equity fund Seidler Equity Partners and sat on MLB's ownership and investment committees. He worked with the city of San Diego, organizations and fellow business leaders to address the city's homelessness crisis.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred noted Seidler's work in his community in a statement.
“I am deeply saddened by the news of Peter’s passing," Manfred's statement reads. "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."
Seidler is survived by his wife Sheel Seidler and their children.
Per the Union-Tribune, the Padres are setting aside non-essential business this week to grieve Seidler. This includes a pause of their search for a new manager after Bob Melvin left the organization to manage the San Francisco Giants.
