The Baltimore Orioles announced Saturday that longtime owner Peter Angelos died at the age of 94.
In a statement from the Angelos family provided to Chelsea Janes of the Washington Post, the family noted that Angelos "had been ill for several years."
Chelsea Janes @chelsea_janesOrioles announce that Peter Angelos has passed away at 94. <a href="">
Angelos headed a group that purchased the Orioles in 1993, and while he had served as principal owner since then, his sons Louis and John Angelos took on bigger roles within the organization in recent years while Peter tended to his health issues.
Per ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Angelos family agreed earlier this year to sell the Orioles to a group led by businessman David Rubenstein for $1.725 billion.
This month, the Major League Baseball ownership committee voted to approve the sale, and it could be finalized by April.
Rubenstein also released a statement on Angelos' passing:
Andy Kostka @afkostkaStatement from David Rubenstein on Peter Angelos: <a href="">
The investment in the Orioles proved to be a smart one for the Angelos family, as Peter Angelos' group purchased the franchise for $173 million in 1993.
Angelos was born in Baltimore in 1929, and after making his fortune as a lawyer, he purchased his hometown team.
During Angelos' nearly three decades at the helm, the O's neither reached nor won a World Series, but they made the playoffs on six occasions and won the American League East three times.
Most recently, the Orioles went 101-61 and won the AL East last season, just two years after posting a 52-110 record.
Baltimore boasts one of the best young rosters in the league, and after adding former Milwaukee Brewers ace Corbin Burnes in an offseason trade, the Orioles may be the team to beat in the AL in 2024.
The O's also figure to be a contender for many years to come thanks to the presence of No. 1 MLB prospect Jackson Holliday, plus other young players such as Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser.
