**San Diego Padres Mourn the Loss of Owner Peter Seidler at 63**
In a somber moment for the baseball world, San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler, the driving force behind the team’s ascension to national prominence, passed away at the age of 63. The Padres announced his death without specifying the cause, but Seidler, a resilient two-time cancer survivor, had previously disclosed undergoing a medical procedure in September that would prevent him from attending any games for the rest of the 2023 season.
While the Padres grieve the loss of their chairman, the Seidler family will continue to hold the majority ownership of the team. To honor Seidler’s legacy, the Padres will open the Home Plate Gate at Petco Park for fans to gather and pay their respects. The organization plans to spend the week mourning their beloved owner and is expected to announce a new field manager next week, likely before Thanksgiving.
Padres CEO Erik Greupner expressed the organization’s deep sorrow, stating, “The Padres organization mourns the passing of our beloved chairman and owner, Peter Seidler. Today, our love and prayers encircle Peter’s family as they grieve the loss of an extraordinary husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend.” Greupner highlighted Seidler’s kindness, generosity, and compassion for others, emphasizing his profound impact on both San Diego and the baseball world.
As the grandson of renowned Los Angeles Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley, Seidler was not just an owner but a devoted Padres fan at heart. He will be remembered for green-lighting significant free-agent contracts, making substantial investments in players like Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, Fernando Tatis Jr., Joe Musgrove, and Yu Darvish.
Under Seidler’s leadership, the Padres ended a 14-year postseason drought in the shortened 2020 season and reached the National League Championship Series in 2022, marked by a thrilling division series-clinching victory over the rival Dodgers. Despite operating in a lower-tier television market with a historically apathetic fan base, Seidler’s vision of rallying local support came to fruition. In 2023, the Padres set attendance records, drawing over 3 million fans and generating record revenues.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred expressed his condolences, acknowledging Seidler’s lifelong passion for baseball and his commitment to the San Diego community. As a key figure in the Padres’ ownership since 2012, Seidler not only steered the team’s on-field success but also played a crucial role in community initiatives, addressing homelessness and supporting cancer research.
Seidler’s legacy extends beyond baseball achievements, as he built a reputation for his passion, loyalty, and kindness within the Padres organization and the San Diego community. Survived by his wife, Sheel, his mother, Terry, three children, and nine siblings, Peter Seidler leaves a lasting impact on the Padres franchise and the city he devotedly served.