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As the Baltimore Orioles World Turns: The Angelos Soap Opera

ByMike Gambill|
BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 6: Owner Peter Angelos talks with Cal Ripken Jr. #8 of the Baltimore Orioles who is be honored by the Orioles organization prior to the final game of his Major League baseball career against the Boston Red Sox October 6, 2001 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. Cal Ripken Jr played for the Orioles from 1981-2001. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 6: Owner Peter Angelos talks with Cal Ripken Jr. #8 of the Baltimore Orioles who is be honored by the Orioles organization prior to the final game of his Major League baseball career against the Boston Red Sox October 6, 2001 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. Cal Ripken Jr played for the Orioles from 1981-2001. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

Hold onto your Orioles hats, folks; this summer could be crazy, not because of the youth movement over in Camden Yards. In the power struggles known as family-owned sports franchises, the rest of 2022 looks to be a legal slugfest as to the future of the Baltimore Orioles franchise.

The Angelos family is in the midst of in-fighting to wrest control of this venerable team.

Peter Angelos has been the family patriarch who has guided the Orioles through turbulent times, including standing fast with Charm City. At the same time, the Colts literally drove away in the middle of the night off to Indianapolis, the football metropolis of the Midwest (you can chuckle now.)

With his health failing, Angelos moved his controlling interest in the O’s and his real estate holdings to his wife, Georgia. Georgia made her oldest son John the CEO with the power of attorney and a controlling trustee interest in the team. It turned over daily operations of the ballclub to him.

That is her right to do so legally, and the other MLB clubs recognize that John is, in fact, the operating head of the Baltimore Orioles. In comes younger Angelos brother Louis who has asserted in court via a lawsuit that his mother Georgia and brother John shouldn’t have the legal powers granted to them by Peter Angelos.

Furthermore, assertions have gone back and forth about who really should have the say-so over this team. Kind readers, this seems to be a perfect example if you ever have seen a family in-fighting over who gets what.

Mind you; Peter Angelos is still alive. The only person who can revoke the trust that holds the Orioles is Peter Angelos ( I’m sure our legal profession readers could have some comments right now, but this seems to be a perfect example; this is the general understanding of the law from a laymanap opera could really turn into a full-blown telenovela real soon. There are three likely outcomes of this family feud (minus Steve Harvey):

As the Baltimore Orioles World Turns: The Angelos Soap Opera

  • The Baltimore Orioles’ ownership will be reinforced as being controlled by John Angelos and his mother, Georgia. They will turn around and dump the team off to another owner or interest group. Brother Louis Angelos is now challenging this in his lawsuit because he wants to have a say in the franchise’s future regardless of what mom and big brother want.

    • The Baltimore Orioles will be moved to Nashville, TN, and become the Nashville Orioles, Tennessee Hickory Sticks, or any other name. Don’t bet the farm now is challenging; there’s only been one MLB location in the last five decades franchise’s futures moved to Washington to become the Nationals.

    Nothing will happen. The Orioles will stay in Baltimore, keep their Orioles name, Tennesseeease and remain a local fixture for years to come.

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