Phillies news: Chairman emeritus Bill Giles passes away at 92

Bill Giles, the longtime chairman emeritus of the Philadelphia Phillies, passed away at the age of 92 on Friday. Giles had been with the franchise for over five decades, serving in various positions within the organization since 1969. He started as vice president of business operations and was later promoted to executive vice president.

In 1981, he led a group that purchased the club from the Carpenter family. Giles held the roles of president, CEO, and finally became chairman emeritus in 2015, a position he held until his death. The Phillies paid tribute to Giles through statements from John Middleton, the managing partner and CEO, and Mike Schmidt, a Hall of Famer and former third baseman.

Middleton praised Giles for reshaping the franchise into a prominent entertainment and business operation, while Schmidt remembered him as the heart and soul of the organization for over two decades. Giles was credited with helping the Phillies achieve two World Series victories during his tenure as CEO, in 1980 and 1983, and played a crucial role in bringing players like Pete Rose to the team.

Despite Giles' significant contributions, the Phillies have only had four winning seasons under his leadership, with no World Series appearances in the past decade. The team currently stands at 87-73, just behind second place in the NL East division standings. They will aim to bounce back in the next game of their series against the Tampa Bay Rays on September 26 at 7:15 p.m. ET.