Peter Magowan
Encyclopedia
Peter A. Magowan is the former managing general partner of the San Francisco Giants
Major League Baseball
franchise.
(1885–1956), co-founder of Merrill Lynch & Company
and instrumental in the formation of Safeway
. Magowan's father, Robert Anderson Magowan, was chairman and CEO of Safeway; Magowan's mother, Doris Merrill Magowan (1914–2001), was a prominent San Francisco philanthropist
. Magowan is the nephew of poet James Merrill
(1926–1995). He graduated high school from Groton School, has a bachelors degree from Stanford University
and a masters degree from Oxford University. He also did post-graduate work at The Johns Hopkins University.
Following graduation from Stanford, Magowan joined Safeway as a real estate negotiator in Washington D.C. He also worked as a District Manager in Houston, a Retail Operations Manager in Phoenix and a Division Manager in Tulsa. From 1976 to 1978 he was in charge of the Company's international operations. He was elected a Director of Safeway in 1978 following the death of his father.
In 1979 Magowan was elected as chairman
and CEO
of Safeway. He would run Safeway until its poor performance led to it being the target of corporate raiders, resulting in acquisition by KKR acting as a white knight
.
Magowan is also a director of Caterpillar, Inc., DaimlerChrysler
, W5 Networks, Inc., and Spring Group, PLC. He is a native of New York City and was a Giants fan prior to moving to San Francisco; the team itself soon followed.
. Before Magowan's consortium
stepped in with its offer to buy the team, Lurie had planned to sell the team to a group from St. Petersburg
, now home to the Tampa Bay Rays
. Magowan made his mark on the team immediately, signing free agent superstar Barry Bonds
, a San Francisco Bay Area
-native whose father
began his career as a Giant.
Magowan is also noted for spearheading the construction of the Giants' current home, AT&T Park
(previously SBC Park and Pacific Bell Park). Previously, several initiatives to build tax-supported stadiums had been rejected by San Francisco
voters. In December 1995, Magowan unveiled his plan for a 42,000 seat ballpark in China Basin, which would be privately funded - the first privately funded in over 30 years. The plan was passed easily by San Francisco voters, by a 2 to 1 margin. Pacific Bell Park opened in 2000
, replacing the oft-criticized Candlestick Park. Since AT&T Park opened, the San Francisco Giants have been at the upper top half of revenue-generating teams in Major League Baseball.
Brian Sabean
drew some criticism in the Mitchell Report
when it was revealed Giants athletic trainer Stan Conte came to Sabean and told him he suspected Bonds trainer Greg Anderson
was distributing steroids and Giants management didn't investigate or tell Major League Baseball
. Conte had been approached by a player. In the January 2007 Congressional hearings on performance enhancing drugs, Congressman Henry Waxman
asked Commissioner Bud Selig
to discipline Sabean and Magowan for their culpability. Some sports insiders argued that Magowan's and Sabean's actions on steroids was not any different from other clubs at the time. When Magowan was interviewed for the Mitchell Report
, Magowan told Senator George Mitchell
that Barry Bonds
told him he had used steroids; he withdrew that assertion a few days later.
Bill Neukom
succeeded Magowan as the principal shareholder and lead representative of the investors in the San Francisco Giants.
On November 3, 2010, Magowan participated in the Giants victory parade as the team celebrated its first World Series title since moving to San Francisco in 1958. The team had previously won in 1954 when they were in New York.
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
franchise.
Early life and career
Magowan's maternal grandfather was Charles MerrillCharles E. Merrill
Charles Edward Merrill was an American philanthropist, stockbroker and co-founder, with Edmund C. Lynch of Merrill Lynch & Company .-Early years:...
(1885–1956), co-founder of Merrill Lynch & Company
Merrill Lynch
Merrill Lynch is the wealth management division of Bank of America. With over 15,000 financial advisors and $2.2 trillion in client assets it is the world's largest brokerage. Formerly known as Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., prior to 2009 the firm was publicly owned and traded on the New York...
and instrumental in the formation of Safeway
Safeway Inc.
Safeway Inc. , a Fortune 500 company, is North America's second largest supermarket chain after The Kroger Co., with, as of December 2010, 1,694 stores located throughout the western and central United States and western Canada. It also operates some stores in the Mid-Atlantic region of the Eastern...
. Magowan's father, Robert Anderson Magowan, was chairman and CEO of Safeway; Magowan's mother, Doris Merrill Magowan (1914–2001), was a prominent San Francisco philanthropist
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
. Magowan is the nephew of poet James Merrill
James Merrill
James Ingram Merrill was an American poet whose awards include the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for Divine Comedies...
(1926–1995). He graduated high school from Groton School, has a bachelors degree from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
and a masters degree from Oxford University. He also did post-graduate work at The Johns Hopkins University.
Following graduation from Stanford, Magowan joined Safeway as a real estate negotiator in Washington D.C. He also worked as a District Manager in Houston, a Retail Operations Manager in Phoenix and a Division Manager in Tulsa. From 1976 to 1978 he was in charge of the Company's international operations. He was elected a Director of Safeway in 1978 following the death of his father.
In 1979 Magowan was elected as chairman
Chair (official)
The chairman is the highest officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office is typically elected or appointed by the members of the group. The chairman presides over meetings of the assembled group and conducts its business in an...
and CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Safeway. He would run Safeway until its poor performance led to it being the target of corporate raiders, resulting in acquisition by KKR acting as a white knight
White knight (business)
In business, a white knight, or "friendly investor," may be a corporation or a person that intends to help another firm. There are many types of white knights...
.
Magowan is also a director of Caterpillar, Inc., DaimlerChrysler
DaimlerChrysler
Daimler AG is a German car corporation. By unit sales, it is the thirteenth-largest car manufacturer and second-largest truck manufacturer in the world. In addition to automobiles, Daimler manufactures buses and provides financial services through its Daimler Financial Services arm...
, W5 Networks, Inc., and Spring Group, PLC. He is a native of New York City and was a Giants fan prior to moving to San Francisco; the team itself soon followed.
Managing general partner of the San Francisco Giants
Magowan, along with a group of investors, purchased the franchise on January 12, 1993, from the previous owner, Bob LurieBob Lurie
Robert Alfred Lurie is a real estate magnate, philanthropist, and former owner of the San Francisco Giants franchise of Major League Baseball from March 2, 1976 until January 12, 1993.-Giants Ownership:...
. Before Magowan's consortium
Consortium
A consortium is an association of two or more individuals, companies, organizations or governments with the objective of participating in a common activity or pooling their resources for achieving a common goal....
stepped in with its offer to buy the team, Lurie had planned to sell the team to a group from St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
, now home to the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
. Magowan made his mark on the team immediately, signing free agent superstar Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. Bonds played from 1986 to 2007, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He is the son of former major league All-Star Bobby Bonds...
, a San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
-native whose father
Bobby Bonds
Bobby Lee Bonds was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball from to , primarily with the San Francisco Giants...
began his career as a Giant.
Magowan is also noted for spearheading the construction of the Giants' current home, AT&T Park
AT&T Park
AT&T Park is a ballpark located in the South Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, California. Located at 24 Willie Mays Plaza, at the corner of Third and King Streets, it has served as the home of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball since 2000....
(previously SBC Park and Pacific Bell Park). Previously, several initiatives to build tax-supported stadiums had been rejected by San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
voters. In December 1995, Magowan unveiled his plan for a 42,000 seat ballpark in China Basin, which would be privately funded - the first privately funded in over 30 years. The plan was passed easily by San Francisco voters, by a 2 to 1 margin. Pacific Bell Park opened in 2000
2000 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*Regular Season Champions*World Series Champion - New York Yankees*Postseason - October 3 to October 26Click on any series score to link to that series' page....
, replacing the oft-criticized Candlestick Park. Since AT&T Park opened, the San Francisco Giants have been at the upper top half of revenue-generating teams in Major League Baseball.
Criticism
In late 2007 and early 2008, Peter Magowan and Giants general managerGeneral manager (baseball)
In Major League Baseball, the general manager of a team typically controls player transactions and bears the primary responsibility on behalf of the ballclub during contract discussions with players....
Brian Sabean
Brian Sabean
Brian R. Sabean is the Senior Vice President and General Manager of the San Francisco Giants, a Major League Baseball franchise. He has held the job since 1997, when he replaced former General Manager Bob Quinn...
drew some criticism in the Mitchell Report
Mitchell Report (baseball)
The Report to the Commissioner of Baseball of an Independent Investigation into the Illegal Use of Steroids and Other Performance Enhancing Substances by Players in Major League Baseball, informally known as the "Mitchell Report", is the result of former Democratic United States Senator from Maine...
when it was revealed Giants athletic trainer Stan Conte came to Sabean and told him he suspected Bonds trainer Greg Anderson
Greg Anderson
Greg Anderson may refer to:*Cadillac Anderson , Gregory Wayne "Cadillac" Anderson, basketball player*Greg Anderson , Canadian actor*Greg Anderson , NHRA pro stock drag racer...
was distributing steroids and Giants management didn't investigate or tell Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. Conte had been approached by a player. In the January 2007 Congressional hearings on performance enhancing drugs, Congressman Henry Waxman
Henry Waxman
Henry Arnold Waxman is the U.S. Representative for , serving in Congress since 1975. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He is considered to be one of the most influential liberal members of Congress...
asked Commissioner Bud Selig
Bud Selig
Allan Huber "Bud" Selig is the ninth and current Commissioner of Major League Baseball, having served in that capacity since 1992 as the acting commissioner, and as the official commissioner since 1998...
to discipline Sabean and Magowan for their culpability. Some sports insiders argued that Magowan's and Sabean's actions on steroids was not any different from other clubs at the time. When Magowan was interviewed for the Mitchell Report
Mitchell Report (baseball)
The Report to the Commissioner of Baseball of an Independent Investigation into the Illegal Use of Steroids and Other Performance Enhancing Substances by Players in Major League Baseball, informally known as the "Mitchell Report", is the result of former Democratic United States Senator from Maine...
, Magowan told Senator George Mitchell
George J. Mitchell
George John Mitchell, Jr., is the former U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Peace under the Obama administration. A Democrat, Mitchell was a United States Senator who served as the Senate Majority Leader from 1989 to 1995...
that Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. Bonds played from 1986 to 2007, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He is the son of former major league All-Star Bobby Bonds...
told him he had used steroids; he withdrew that assertion a few days later.
Stepping down as managing partner
On May 16, 2008, Magowan announced he would be stepping down as managing partner of the Giants effective October 1, 2008.Bill Neukom
Bill Neukom
William Horlick "Bill" Neukom is currently the managing general partner of the San Francisco Giants baseball team ownership group. Although he has only held this position since October 2008, it has been reported that he will be stepping down on December 31, 2011. Prior to holding this position,...
succeeded Magowan as the principal shareholder and lead representative of the investors in the San Francisco Giants.
On November 3, 2010, Magowan participated in the Giants victory parade as the team celebrated its first World Series title since moving to San Francisco in 1958. The team had previously won in 1954 when they were in New York.