Philadelphia lost one of the figures who helped shape the modern feel of the Phillies when Bill Giles, the longtime club owner and executive, died at 92.
Giles’ imprint reached well beyond the front office. He was part of the Phillies leadership that brought Pete Rose to Philadelphia, a move that placed one of baseball’s most famous and polarizing stars in a Phillies uniform. He also helped create the Phillie Phanatic, the green mascot who became as much a piece of the ballpark’s identity as the uniforms and the scoreboard.
For generations of fans, those two decisions reflected different sides of Giles’ influence: the pursuit of a major on-field name in Rose and the lasting entertainment value of the Phanatic. One was a headline move built around a celebrated player; the other became an enduring symbol of Phillies baseball.
Giles spent years as an owner and executive with the franchise, leaving a legacy that lived in the club’s baseball operations, its connection with its fans and the personality it carried into every home game. He was 92.
