Sports World Reacts To Death Of Prominent Team Owner
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 23: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals throws a pitch against the New York Yankees during the first inning in the game at Nationals Park on July 23, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
The baseball world lost one of its biggest figures this week following the passing of Washington Nationals team owner Ted Lerner. He was 97 years old.
The Washington Post reported this morning that Lerner passed away in his Maryland home on Sunday after a battle with pneumonia. He had three children, nine grandchildren and six great-grand children.
Lerner acquired ownership of the Washington Nationals in 2006 and oversaw the team becoming one of the NL East's most dangerous teams between 2012 and 2019. During that time, the Nationals reached the playoffs five times and won the World Series in 2019.
Fans on Twitter have come out to offer their condolences to Lerner, with many praising him for changing their lives through his ownership of the Nationals.
Ted Lerner was born and raised in Washington in the 1920s, served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and used the G.I. Bill to get a college education at George Washington University.
In 1952, he founded Lerner Enterprises, a real estate company that has invested in and develop over 20 million square feet of real estate, largely in the Washington, DC area.
But while Lerner is most famous in the sports world for his ownership of the Nationals, he's widely regarded as a philanthropist who has worked tirelessly to support numerous organizations ranging from colleges to research institutes to the Holocaust Museum in Washington.
Our hearts go out to Lerner's family and loved ones.
