Peter Angelos
Peter George Angelos (July 4, 1929 – March 23, 2024) was an American trial lawyer and baseball executive best known for amassing a fortune through asbestos litigation and for serving as the majority owner of the Baltimore Orioles Major League Baseball franchise from 1993 until his death.[1][2]
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Greek immigrant parents, Angelos relocated to Baltimore's Highlandtown neighborhood in his youth and graduated as valedictorian from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 1961, subsequently founding a law firm that pioneered representation for asbestos exposure victims in the United States, securing hundreds of millions in settlements against manufacturers.[3][2][4] His legal success funded the 1993 acquisition of the Orioles for a then-record price, during which his hands-on management style—often prioritizing local interests and player contracts—yielded a 1996 American League East title but was criticized for contributing to prolonged losing seasons and internal family disputes over operations in later years.[1][5][6] Following Angelos's 2017 stroke, his son John assumed day-to-day control, culminating in the franchise's sale to a new ownership group valuing the team at $1.725 billion shortly after his passing.[5][7]