Padres Reveal How They'll Honor Owner Peter Seidler in 2024
Earlier this month San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler tragically passed away at 63 years old.
Seilder owned the Padres for the last 11 years. During that time, the Padres made the playoffs just twice, and even had an appearance in the 2022 NLCS. In 2023 they ran MLB's third-highest payroll as they were bidding to make their first World Series since 1998.
Following Seidler's death, the organization announced it will honor him a few different ways this season. In addition to wearing a patch on their uniforms in 2024, the Padres are planning to host a Celebration of Life to honor him from the weekend of March 22 through March 24.
The Padres will additionally be working with notable charities that emphasize Seidler's passion and devotion to the city of San Diego. The Peter Seidler Legacy Fund is currently accepting donations on the Padres' website.
Seidler originally bought the Padres in 2012 for just $800 million. The team is now worth $1.87 billion.
Once Seilder bought the Padres, he did everything he could to demonstrate his commitment to winning, which included expanding the team's payroll in 2015.
That off-season, the Padres made a huge splash by signing James Shields to a four-year, $75 million contract. He also acquired three stars in their prime — Matt Kemp, Justin Upton and Craig Kimbrel — who pushed the team's payroll north of $100 million for the first time. San Diego also traded for 2013 AL Rookie of the Year award winner Wil Myers.
The plan didn't bring a World Series to San Diego. Seidler and general manager A.J. Preller reversed course quickly, rebuilding the farm system by trading most of its stars. That included trading Shields to the Chicago White Sox for Erik Johnson and Fernando Tatis Jr. in 2016 — a trade that would eventually set the Padres on their current course to relevance.
In his later years, Seidler continued to show his commitment to winning by acquiring players like Manny Machado, Juan Soto, Xander Bogaerts, Eric Hosmer, Josh Hader and Blake Snell.
While they never won a World Series during his tenure, Seilder did everything he could to turn around the Padres. Although the team struggled to finish above .500 in 2023 and recently traded Soto to the New York Yankees, the Padres remain a solid team on paper whose core is strong enough to contend for a World Series.
