Giles, longtime Phillies exec who helped create Phanatic, dies at 92 — SkimNews
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- Bill Giles died Friday at 92 at his Gladwyne, Pennsylvania home, capping a Phillies career that began in 1969 as vice president of business operations and spanned more than 50 years.
- Giles organized the 1981 purchase of the team from the Carpenter family and served as president and CEO until 1997, later becoming chairman and then chairman emeritus in 2015.
- Giles played a major role in building the 1980 World Series champion Phillies, including convincing former owner Ruly Carpenter to sign free agent Pete Rose.
- During Giles' tenure as CEO, Philadelphia had just four winning seasons but reached the World Series in two of them.
- Giles pushed for the opening of Veterans Stadium in 1971 and Citizens Bank Park in 2004, and was inspired to create the Phillie Phanatic mascot.
- Giles, son of former National League president Warren Giles, became honorary NL president in 2001 and received the Bud Selig Executive Leadership Award for lifetime achievement in baseball in 2010.
- The Phillies honored Giles with a moment of silence before Friday's game against Tampa Bay.
Why it matters: Giles held the title of chairman emeritus at his death, ending his role as the executive who organized the 1981 ownership purchase, pushed for Veterans Stadium and Citizens Bank Park, and created the Phillie Phanatic. The Phillies honored him with a moment of silence before Friday's game against Tampa Bay.
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