Bill Giles relinquished his post as President & CEO of
the Phillies on Friday and David Montgomery was named to
fill the position, according to Jim Salisbury of the
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. Montgomery will be responsible for
the daily operations of the club, with all department heads
"answering to him." Giles will stay on as team Chair and
retain his ownership interest, "believed to be about" 20%.
Salisbury adds that Montgomery's "ascension means that
baseball has one less mom-and-pop store" (PHILADELPHIA
INQUIRER, 6/21). Also in Philadelphia, Ted Silary called
the move a "bombshell," and wrote that Giles will "focus his
efforts" on a new ballpark for the team. Silary: "Like him
or loathe him, there's no argument Giles has been a king-
sized Philadelphia booster and extremely active in civic
affairs" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 6/21). The INQUIRER's
Frank Fitzpatrick wrote that this season's "attendance
dropoff almost certainly contributed" to Giles' resignation
(PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 6/22).
SPECULATION: The INQUIRER's Salisbury wrote that
"[s]ome people close to the Phillies wonder if Giles wasn't,
in essence, called on the carpet by his peers at the annual
owners' meetings held last week in Philadelphia. Some
baseball management people have been troubled by the steady
decline of the Phillies, a prominent-market franchise in a
traditionally strong baseball town." Salisbury adds that
Montgomery "will bring greater accountability to the
organization" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 6/22).
