Longtime Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos passed away at the age of 94 after battling illness for several years. Angelos, who was born on the Fourth of July in 1929 to Greek immigrants in Maryland, rose from a blue-collar background to become a successful lawyer and owner of the Orioles. In 1993, he led a group of investors to purchase the team for $173 million, the highest price ever paid for a sports franchise at the time. Angelos was known for his hands-on approach to running the team, with few player acquisitions made without his approval.

During his ownership, the Orioles never won a World Series, but they did reach the postseason in 2012 and the American League Championship Series in 2014. However, the team struggled in 2018 with the worst record in the majors, leading to a major rebuild under new manager Brandon Hyde. The Orioles ultimately rebounded and won 101 games and a division title in 2023.

Angelos' public role in the team diminished in his final years, with his sons, John and Louis, taking on more responsibility. John, the current chairman and CEO of the Orioles, recently agreed to sell the team to a group led by David Rubenstein for $1.725 billion. Angelos also had a successful law firm that won high-profile cases against industry titans, earning him millions in commissions. In addition to his baseball and legal career, Angelos had a political career and was involved in the horse racing industry.

Angelos' death marks the end of an era for the Orioles and the city of Baltimore, where he made a lasting impact both on and off the field. His legacy as a successful businessman, lawyer, and sports owner will be remembered by many in the community.