Padres vow to fulfill late owner’s dream

San Diego Padres stars and executives remembered late owner Peter Seidler with laughter and some emotional moments on Saturday while vowing to fulfill his dream of bringing a World Series championship to his adopted hometown.

A celebration of life was held for Seidler at Petco Park five days before the Padres play their home opener. Seidler died of an undisclosed cause on Nov. 14. He was 63.

Seidler was a third-generation member of the O’malley family that used to own the Dodgers in Brooklyn and Los Angeles. But he was all-in on the Padres as part of a group that bought them in 2012. He became majority owner in November 2020 and fearlessly committed hundreds of millions of dollars toward trying to bring the city and it’s long-suffering fans their first championship.

“Just about a year ago, Peter said one day the baseball gods would smile on the Padres and we’d have a parade in San Diego,” his brother, Tom, a Padres senior vice president, said at the end of the two-hour program in front of about 2,000 fans. “And Peter opened the question about the celebration being on land or at sea. Today we have the answer. When that day happens, the celebration will be both on land and on sea and also in the heavens above. Peter, Tony Gwynn, Jerry Coleman and others will be leading the celebration upstairs.”

Tom Seidler, general manager A.J. Preller and third baseman Manny Machado all became emotional during their speeches.

Machado called Seidler “one of the greatest humans that I’ve had the privilege of knowing. Peter left a huge mark. Not just in the world of baseball, but in our community. His legacy will live through the countless lives he’s touched and the impact he left on everyone in this building.”

Machado recounted meeting Seidler at a luncheon shortly after he signed as a free agent in 2019.

“All I remember was Peter in the corner, tossing a baseball up and down, rubbing it like he was rubbing dirt on it,” Machado said. “That was Peter. It was then that I learned Peter’s passion, respect and love he had for this game. He was a mentor and a friend and he changed baseball in the city of San Diego forever.

“I know you are here with us, with a baseball in your hand, watching us, cheering us on, our No. 1 fan,” Machado said. “We will continue to work hard to fulfill your longtime dream which is to bring a parade to this city while we hold up the commissioner’s trophy at the end of the year.

“We love you, Peter.” ORIOLES OWNER ANGELS DIES >> Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos died Saturday at age 94, his family announced in a statement.

“Mr. Angelos had been ill for several years, and the family thanks the doctors, nurses and caregivers who brought comfort to him in his final years,” the family’s statement read in a post on X.

Angelos’ family said the baseball team’s owner wished to have a private burial.

“The family asks for understanding as they honor that request. Donations may be sent to charity in lieu of flowers,” the statement read.

Angelos, who has owned the Orioles since 1993, reportedly agreed in January to sell the franchise in a $1.725 billion deal to a group led by billionaire David Rubenstein.

The purchase still needs to be finalized by Major League Baseball and the other 29 teams’ owners.

Rubenstein, a Baltimore native and co-founder of The Carlyle Group, shared a statement via X on Saturday following the announcement of Angelos’ death.

“I offer my deepest condolences to the Angelos family on the passing of Peter Angelos. Peter made an indelible mark first in business and then in baseball. The city of Baltimore owes him a debt of gratitude for his stewardship of the Orioles across three decades and for positioning the team for great success,” Rubenstein said. MARTINEZ FINALIZES CONTRACT WITH METS >> J.D. Martinez and the New York Mets finalized a $12 million, one-year contract on Saturday.

The 36-year-old designated hitter gets a $2.5 million signing bonus, $2 million this year and $7.5 million in deferred money, payable in $1.5 million installments each Jan. 15 from 2034-38.