Bill Giles, a longtime executive with the Philadelphia Phillies and former owner, passed away on Friday, September 25, 2026, at his home in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, just 18 days after celebrating his 92nd birthday. The Phillies organization confirmed his death. John Middleton, managing partner and CEO of the Phillies, stated, "The Phillies family lost an icon today. Bill helped to reshape our franchise from a traditional baseball club into a highly visible entertainment and business operation. His profound impact in overseeing one of the greatest eras in franchise history, both on and off the field, will forever be his legacy."
Giles is recognized for his role in building the 1980 World Series championship team, which included players such as Mike Schmidt, Pete Rose, and Steve Carlton. He is also credited with introducing the Phillie Phanatic, a mascot designed to entertain families and engage younger fans. The Phanatic made its debut in 1978 and became one of the most recognized mascots in professional sports.
Giles joined the Phillies in 1969 as vice president of business operations and was known for his innovative and sometimes unconventional methods of fan engagement. His promotions included a tightrope walk by Karl Wallenda across Veterans Stadium in 1973, which was completed without incident. In another promotion, Giles attempted to have a performer known as "Kiteman" fly a hang glider from the upper deck to deliver a baseball to then-Philadelphia mayor Frank Rizzo on Opening Day in 1972; however, the stunt ended with a crash into the upper deck, though the performer survived.
Giles expressed his goal of attracting fans to the ballpark through unique promotions, stating, "If we could get them to the ballpark once... they hopefully will like it enough to where they would come back enough to become a mini-season-ticket holder for 10-15 games a year and then eventually a full season-ticket holder."
Mike Schmidt commented on Giles' passing, saying, "Sad news today as we learned of the passing of a dear friend of the Phillies family, Bill Giles. Bill was the heart and soul of the organization for over two decades. He was a close personal friend to so many of us. He will always be a big part of Phillies history. Prayers go to the Giles family in this time of mourning."