[Baltimore Sun] Peter Angelos’ legacy and the Orioles are in good hands | GUEST COMMENTARY
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I have been fortunate over the years to have been in the company of such legendary Orioles’ owners as Edward Bennett Williams, Larry Lucchino, Eli Jacobs and, of course, the late Peter Angelos.
Each of these extraordinary people held fast to the understanding that their ownership of the Orioles was held in trust as a steward to the community at large. Each cared deeply about Baltimore and the Orioles, perhaps none as much as Peter Angelos.
As a self-made man of humble origins, Peter took great pride in assuring that the Orioles would always be a Baltimore civic asset, and he wanted only the best for our city and the club.
He fought tirelessly and against great odds to ensure that the Orioles protected all parties’ rights during the 1994 strike, including the unionized players’ and MLB’s long-term interests, all the while ensuring that Cal Ripken’s consecutive game streak would not be lost to games played by “replacement” players.
Peter also stood tall and courageous by ensuring that the Orioles were appropriately compensated for the considerable loss of market share and revenue as a result of Major League Baseball’s decision to relocate the Montreal Expos to Washington, D.C.
His tenacity and brilliance led to the negotiated agreement with MLB that created MASN and allowed the Orioles to replenish revenues from the network lost to the existence of another Club in the market area. Cord cutting and the advent of streaming services have diminished some of that value, but nothing can diminish the strength of Peter’s fundamental conviction that what’s right is right.
Peter was a force of nature.
A man who lifted others less fortunate than he upon his shoulders. Above all, he was a man of generosity, philanthropy, determination and moral integrity.
In countless ways, large and small, I witnessed Peter helping others, many of whom he never met but understood their plight and lent a helping hand.
We might never see another like him, but we can be comforted by the fact that David Rubenstein, a man of similar traits, dedication to our city, civic responsibility and philanthropy is now at the helm. From what I have seen, Mr. Rubenstein and his colleagues, including the all-time great Cal Ripken, are equally committed to the City and to returning the Orioles to the fall classic.
I am confident that Peter Angelos would be proud that his legacy and the future of the Orioles are in such good hands.
Attorney Alan M. Rifkin ([email protected]) formerly served as outside counsel to the Orioles.
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