Peter Seidler, owner and president of the San Diego Padres, has died. He was 63 years old.
The Padres announced his death in a press release Tuesday. The news comes after Seidler, a two-time survivor of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, issued a statement in September that he had undergone a “medical procedure” a month earlier and was “on the road to recovery .”
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“While I can’t be with you on the pitch for our remaining games this season, I’m watching them all and I look forward to making noise together again in 2024 and celebrating the 20th anniversary of our beautiful stadium,” his statement added.
According to San Diego Union-Tribune, Seidler “had been battling the disease for months,” and his family asked that the cause of his death remain a secret.
Seidler bought the Padres in 2012 and became president in November 2020 after his business partner Ron Fowler stepped down from the role.
Seidler Equity Partners co-founder’s passion for sports began at a young age. He was the grandson of the Dodgers’ previous longtime owner and National Baseball Hall of Famer and Museum Director Walter O’Malley.
Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a released statement that Seidler “grew up in a baseball family” and that his love of baseball was “evident throughout his life.”
San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler speaks during the Padres Hall of Fame induction before a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, July 28, 2023, in San Diego.
AP Photo/Gregory Bull
“He was passionate about owning the Padres and giving San Diego fans a team they could always be proud of. Peter made sure the Padres were part of the San Diego community solutions, especially with the homeless community. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the Padres and Major League Baseball. for bringing people together and helping others,” his statement added.
Padres CEO Erik Greupner said in his own statement on the announcement that “Peter was a kind and generous man who was devoted to his wife, children and extended family. He also consistently showed genuine compassion for others, especially those less fortunate. His impact on the city of San Diego and the world of baseball will be felt for generations.”
According to Seidler’s biography on the Padres’ website, he formed a “Tuesday Group” that met weekly to brainstorm ways to “assist the most vulnerable segments of the homeless population” in San Diego. Along with his wife, Sheel, he supported numerous charities, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the American Cancer Society.
Under Seidler’s ownership, the Padres’ payroll grew to $250 million this year as he sought to finally bring the franchise its first World Series championship.
“We expect to be good year after year,” Seidler told reporters in December. “As an owner who will be in this game as long as I’m allowed to, we’re looking at a very long-term perspective.”
Members of the Padres also took time to share their memories with Seidler. Pitcher Yu Darvish shared on Instagram that he was “heartbroken by the unfortunate news of Peter Seidler’s passing.”
“I’m sure everyone who knew him would agree that Peter was a truly wonderful human being and it was always a blessing to be in his presence. He was a teacher of life and taught me countless lessons from all the interactions we had had”, added in his statement.
Seidler is survived by his wife Sheel, their three children, mother Terry and nine siblings.
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