Commissioner's statement

Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred, Jr. issued the following statement today regarding the passing of Washington Nationals Founding Principal Owner Ted Lerner, who was 97:

“Ted Lerner was a proud product of Washington, DC, an avid baseball fan, and an extraordinary American success story. In 2006, this onetime usher at Griffith Stadium took ownership in the nation’s capital and, in 2008, made Nationals Park a first-class destination. The Nationals’ era of winning baseball culminated in the 2019 World Series Championship, the first for baseball fans in the District since 1924. Most importantly, the Nationals have always remained loyal to Ted’s vision of unity, philanthropy and civic pride in Washington.

“I have great appreciation for Ted’s impact on his hometown and the game he loved. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Ted’s entire family, including Annette Lerner, Mark Lerner and Judy Lenkin Lerner, Marla Lerner Tanenbaum and Robert Tanenbaum, and Debra Lerner Cohen and Edward Cohen.”