Chairman Ron Fowler stepping down, Peter Seidler to replace him

On Monday morning, it was reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune that executive chairman Ron Fowler is stepping down from his position immediately. General partner Peter Seidler is set to replace him following a vote by Major League Baseball owners on Wednesday morning with the official announcement coming later.

Fowler will best be remembered as a key figure in turning the Padres franchise around from their losing days into a young and dynamic contender.

Seidler becomes the largest single equity holder of the team by purchasing a percentage of Fowler’s stake in the team. He’ll gain the chairman title while Fowler will now be vice chairman. However, Fowler will continue to work with the team in an advisory role.

Per Kevin Acee of the times, he’ll also retain “a prominent role in baseball’s labor negotiations and maintain his place on various league committees.”

During a fan summit back in 2019, Fowler noted that were the team to continue their losing ways in 2020, severe changes would be made within the franchise, even going as far as to say he’d be the first “head to roll.”

Lucky for him, it sounds like he was able to step down with his head held higher than he initially thought after the Padres made the postseason for the first time since 2006.