Padres mourn passing of owner Peter Seidler

SAN DIEGO — Padres owner Peter Seidler died on Tuesday in San Diego, the team announced. He was 63.

“I am deeply saddened by the news of Peter’s passing,” Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “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 is the grandson of Walter O’Malley, who owned the Dodgers for decades before his son, Peter, who is Seidler’s uncle, took over until the club was sold in 1998. Seidler’s investment group purchased the Padres from John Moores in 2012, but he initially took a background role while partner Ron Fowler served as chairman. Seidler became the Padres’ chairman in November 2020.

“The Padres organization mourns the passing of our beloved chairman and owner, Peter Seidler,” Padres CEO Erik Greupner said in a news release. “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.”

Seidler twice survived treatment for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In September, he issued a statement disclosing that he had undergone a medical procedure and expressed optimism about a recovery.

“His generous spirit is now firmly embedded in the fabric of the Padres,” Greupner said. “Although he was our chairman and owner, Peter was at his core a Padres fan. He will be dearly missed.”