Tom Werner
Encyclopedia
Thomas Charles "Tom" Werner (born April 12, 1950 in New York City, New York) is an American
television producer
and businessman who, via his investment in New England Sports Ventures
, is chairman of the Boston Red Sox
and Liverpool Football Club
.
Werner was born in to a wealthy New York area family. He was educated at The Hotchkiss School
, and earned an English
degree from Harvard University
.
. In 1975, he became the Director of East Coast Prime Time Development. Werner was promoted to senior vice president of the prime time development department in 1979. While at ABC, Werner and his partner Marcy Carsey saw Robin Williams
in a comedy club and launched Mork & Mindy. Werner also oversaw the development of Bosom Buddies
which started the career of Tom Hanks
, as well as Soap
which started the career of Billy Crystal
and Taxi
which started the career of Danny DeVito
.
Werner co-founded The Carsey-Werner Company with Marcy Carsey
in 1980. In this capacity he served as executive producer
of such television programs as The Cosby Show
, Roseanne
, 3rd Rock from the Sun
and That 70s Show and other successful hits. Werner made nearly $600 million selling episodes of The Cosby Show for syndication. In 1999, he was honored at the Museum of Television and Radio.
During the administration of President
Bill Clinton
, Werner and Carsey were close friends and frequent advisers to Bill and Hillary Clinton.
In 2000, Werner, Carsey, and longtime partner Caryn Mandabach
joined Oprah Winfrey
to start Oxygen
, a 24 cable channel serving the modern woman.
began on June 14, 1990 when he, along with 14 other Southern California
-based investors, purchased the San Diego Padres
from Joan Kroc for US $75 million. Holder of the largest financial stake in the ballclub, he served as the general managing partner amongst co-owners who were described by a former Padres employee as being fractious.
Just under six weeks into his new ownership role, Werner attempted to cross-promote
the team with one of his television series
in between games of a twi-night doubleheader
versus the Cincinnati Reds
at Jack Murphy Stadium
on July 25, 1990. On an evening billed as Working Women's Night at the ballpark, he had invited Roseanne Barr
, the eponymous
star of one of his sitcoms
, to perform The Star-Spangled Banner
. She comically sang the national anthem
with a loud, screechy voice. After finishing her rendition, she grabbed her crotch
and spat
at the ground in an attempt to parody
baseball
players. The publicity stunt
was met with condemnation from baseball fan
s and sportswriter
s, some of whom called it either the "Barr-Mangled Banner" or the "Barr-Strangled Banner."
The Padres missed capturing the National League (NL) West
title by three games in 1989
, a year prior to the start of Werner's tenure. Its 89–73 record was then the second best in franchise history. After a pair of winning seasons with third-place finishes in 1991
and 1992
, they fell precipitously into the NL West cellar at 61–101 in 1993
, six games behind the expansion
Colorado Rockies
. Performing at a 47–70 pace in 1994
, only a players strike prevented them from completing a second consecutive last-place berth.
This sudden free fall in the standings was the result of the decimation of the starting lineup and pitching staff
due to cost-cutting measures ordered by Werner and his fellow investors. He explained that the Padres lost $7 million in 1992, even though their receipt of a $12 million share of the expansion fees paid by the Rockies and Florida Marlins
calculated into a $5 million profit. It was further claimed that the expansion money was used to repay part of a $20 million loan
that had made the acquisition of the ballclub possible. There was also speculation that the combined wealth of the ownership group was among the highest in the majors at the time.
The reduction of the team's player payroll, known as the Fire Sale of 1993, began on August 31, 1992 when Craig Lefferts
was traded to the Baltimore Orioles
. In the offseason, Randy Myers
and Benito Santiago
were allowed to become free agent
s, Tony Fernández
and Mike Maddux
were dealt to the New York Mets
and Jerald Clark
was selected by the Rockies in the expansion draft. Even though he made a run at the Triple Crown the previous year, Gary Sheffield
was sent to the Marlins on June 24, 1993. Less than a month later on July 18, defending NL home run
champion Fred McGriff
was shipped to the Atlanta Braves
. Bruce Hurst
and Greg Harris were moved to the Rockies on July 26.
The trade of Darrin Jackson
to the Toronto Blue Jays
on March 30, 1993 resulted in a class action
filed against the Padres. During the previous December, the team sent a letter to season-ticket
holders assuring them that the maximum effort would be made to retain Jackson. They reneged on its pledge after Jackson won a $2.1 million arbitration award
in February. Refunds were offered to ticket holders involved in the lawsuit
.
Werner's time as majority owner ended when John Moores
acquired an 80% interest for $80 million on December 22, 1994. Werner retained a 10% share in the franchise until he sold it to Moores before the start of the 2007 season
.
in sports investment and operations company Fenway Sports Group (FSG)
. Originally known as New England Sports Ventures, FSG paid $660 million for the Boston Red Sox
on February 27, 2002. They also purchased Fenway Park
and an 80% share in the New England Sports Network (NESN)
from the Yawkey Family Trust, managed by John Harrington
. The Red Sox won two World Series since, in 2004 and 2007. In 2010, FSG bought Premier League team Liverpool F.C.
from lawyers acting on behalf of the Royal Bank of Scotland
, the lenders to former owners George N. Gillett, Jr. and Tom Hicks
. On 25 November 2010, Liverpool FC announced that Werner would replace Martin Broughton
as the club's chairman beginning 1 December 2010.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
and businessman who, via his investment in New England Sports Ventures
New England Sports Ventures
Fenway Sports Group is an American sports investment company. It is the parent company of Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox and Premier League football club Liverpool F.C.....
, is chairman of the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
and Liverpool Football Club
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
.
Werner was born in to a wealthy New York area family. He was educated at The Hotchkiss School
Hotchkiss School
The Hotchkiss School is an independent, coeducational American college preparatory boarding school located in Lakeville, Connecticut. Founded in 1891, the school enrolls students in grades 9 through 12 and a small number of postgraduates...
, and earned an English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
degree from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
Television career
In 1973, Werner entered television by working for ABC-TVAmerican Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
. In 1975, he became the Director of East Coast Prime Time Development. Werner was promoted to senior vice president of the prime time development department in 1979. While at ABC, Werner and his partner Marcy Carsey saw Robin Williams
Robin Williams
Robin McLaurin Williams is an American actor and comedian. Rising to fame with his role as the alien Mork in the TV series Mork and Mindy, and later stand-up comedy work, Williams has performed in many feature films since 1980. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance...
in a comedy club and launched Mork & Mindy. Werner also oversaw the development of Bosom Buddies
Bosom Buddies
Bosom Buddies is an American sitcom starring Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari created by Robert L. Boyett, Thomas L. Miller and Chris Thompson. It ran from 1980 to 1982 on ABC and in reruns in the summer of 1984 on NBC....
which started the career of Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks
Thomas Jeffrey "Tom" Hanks is an American actor, producer, writer, and director. Hanks worked in television and family-friendly comedies, gaining wide notice in 1988's Big, before achieving success as a dramatic actor in several notable roles, including Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia, the title...
, as well as Soap
Soap (TV series)
Soap is an American sitcom that originally ran on ABC from 1977 to 1981.The show was created as a parody of daytime soap operas, presented as a weekly half-hour prime time comedy. Similar to a soap opera, the show's story was presented in a serial format and included melodramatic plot elements such...
which started the career of Billy Crystal
Billy Crystal
William Edward "Billy" Crystal is an American actor, writer, producer, comedian and film director. He gained prominence in the 1970s for playing Jodie Dallas on the ABC sitcom Soap and became a Hollywood film star during the late 1980s and 1990s, appearing in the critical and box office successes...
and Taxi
Taxi (TV series)
Taxi was an American sitcom that originally aired from 1978 to 1982 on ABC and from 1982 to 1983 on NBC. The series, which won 18 Emmy Awards, including three for "Outstanding Comedy Series", focuses on the everyday lives of a handful of New York City taxi drivers and their abusive dispatcher...
which started the career of Danny DeVito
Danny DeVito
Daniel Michael DeVito, Jr. , better known as Danny DeVito, is an American actor, comedian, director and producer. He first gained prominence for his portrayal of Louie De Palma on the ABC and NBC television series Taxi , for which he won a Golden Globe and an Emmy.DeVito and his wife, Rhea Perlman,...
.
Werner co-founded The Carsey-Werner Company with Marcy Carsey
Marcy Carsey
Marcy Carsey is American television producer. She is best known for her work with fellow producer Tom Werner forming the company Carsey-Werner Productions in 1981.-Life and career:...
in 1980. In this capacity he served as executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
of such television programs as The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show
The Cosby Show is an American television situation comedy starring Bill Cosby, which aired for eight seasons on NBC from September 20, 1984 until April 30, 1992...
, Roseanne
Roseanne (TV series)
Roseanne is an American sitcom broadcast on ABC from October 18, 1988 to May 20, 1997. Starring Roseanne Barr, the show revolved around the Conners, an Illinois working class family...
, 3rd Rock from the Sun
3rd Rock from the Sun
3rd Rock from the Sun is an American sitcom that aired from 1996 to 2001 on NBC. The show is about four extraterrestrials who are on an expedition to Earth, which they consider to be a very insignificant planet...
and That 70s Show and other successful hits. Werner made nearly $600 million selling episodes of The Cosby Show for syndication. In 1999, he was honored at the Museum of Television and Radio.
During the administration of President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, Werner and Carsey were close friends and frequent advisers to Bill and Hillary Clinton.
In 2000, Werner, Carsey, and longtime partner Caryn Mandabach
Caryn Mandabach
Caryn Mandabach is an American television producer.Caryn Mandabach produced ground-breaking US hits including The Cosby Show, Roseanne, A Different World , Grace Under Fire , Cybill , 3rd Rock from the Sun , That '80s Show , That '70s Show , and Grounded for Life .Most recently...
joined Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...
to start Oxygen
Oxygen (TV channel)
Oxygen is an American cable television specialty channel with television programming marketed towards women, with a format similar to Lifetime.- History :...
, a 24 cable channel serving the modern woman.
San Diego Padres
Werner's first attempt at owning a professional sports franchiseProfessional sports league organization
Professional sports leagues are organized in numerous ways. The two most significant types are a European model, characterised by a tiered structure using promotion and relegation to determine participation in a hierarchy of leagues or divisions and a North American model characterized by its use...
began on June 14, 1990 when he, along with 14 other Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
-based investors, purchased the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
from Joan Kroc for US $75 million. Holder of the largest financial stake in the ballclub, he served as the general managing partner amongst co-owners who were described by a former Padres employee as being fractious.
Just under six weeks into his new ownership role, Werner attempted to cross-promote
Cross-promotion
Cross-promotion is a form of marketing promotion where customers of one product or service are targeted with promotion of a related product. A typical example is cross-media marketing of a brand, for example Oprah Winfrey's promotion on her television show of her books, magazines and website...
the team with one of his television series
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
in between games of a twi-night doubleheader
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
versus the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
at Jack Murphy Stadium
Qualcomm Stadium
Qualcomm Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in San Diego, California, in the Mission Valley area....
on July 25, 1990. On an evening billed as Working Women's Night at the ballpark, he had invited Roseanne Barr
Roseanne Barr
Roseanne Cherrie Barr is an American actress, comedian, writer, television producer and director. Barr began her career in stand-up comedy at clubs before gaining fame for her role in the sitcom Roseanne. The show was a hit and lasted nine seasons, from 1988 to 1997...
, the eponymous
Eponym
An eponym is the name of a person or thing, whether real or fictitious, after which a particular place, tribe, era, discovery, or other item is named or thought to be named...
star of one of his sitcoms
Roseanne (TV series)
Roseanne is an American sitcom broadcast on ABC from October 18, 1988 to May 20, 1997. Starring Roseanne Barr, the show revolved around the Conners, an Illinois working class family...
, to perform The Star-Spangled Banner
The Star-Spangled Banner
"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, Francis Scott Key, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships...
. She comically sang the national anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
with a loud, screechy voice. After finishing her rendition, she grabbed her crotch
Crotch
The term crotch may be used to describe the region of an object where it splits into two or more limbs. This can include trees, animals, buildings, in wiring diagrams, etc....
and spat
Spitting
Spitting or expectoration is the act of forcibly ejecting saliva or other substances from the mouth. It is currently considered rude and a social taboo in many parts of the world including the West, while in some other parts of the world it is considered more acceptable...
at the ground in an attempt to parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
players. The publicity stunt
Publicity stunt
A publicity stunt is a planned event designed to attract the public's attention to the event's organizers or their cause. Publicity stunts can be professionally organized or set up by amateurs...
was met with condemnation from baseball fan
Fan (person)
A Fan, sometimes also called aficionado or supporter, is a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something, such as a band or a sports team. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom...
s and sportswriter
Sports journalism
Sports journalism is a form of journalism that reports on sports topics and events.While the sports department within some newspapers has been mockingly called the toy department, because sports journalists do not concern themselves with the 'serious' topics covered by the news desk, sports...
s, some of whom called it either the "Barr-Mangled Banner" or the "Barr-Strangled Banner."
The Padres missed capturing the National League (NL) West
National League West
The National League Western Division, or NL West, is one of the three divisions of Major League Baseball's National League. It was created in 1969 when the previously undivided National League expanded its membership to twelve teams, positioning half of them in an Eastern division and the other...
title by three games in 1989
1989 San Diego Padres season
-Offseason:* October 24, 1988: Lance McCullers, Jimmy Jones, and Stan Jefferson were traded by the Padres to the New York Yankees for Jack Clark and Pat Clements.* December 8, 1988: Bruce Hurst was signed as a free agent by the Padres....
, a year prior to the start of Werner's tenure. Its 89–73 record was then the second best in franchise history. After a pair of winning seasons with third-place finishes in 1991
1991 San Diego Padres season
-Offseason:* December 3, 1990: Frank Seminara was drafted by the San Diego Padres from the New York Yankees in the 1990 rule 5 draft.* December 12, 1990: Mark Parent was traded by the Padres to the Texas Rangers for Scott Coolbaugh....
and 1992
1992 San Diego Padres season
The 1992 San Diego Padres season saw the team finish in third place in the National League West with a record of 82 wins and 80 losses.-Offseason:* November 20, 1991: Derek Lilliquist was selected off waivers from the Padres by the Cleveland Indians....
, they fell precipitously into the NL West cellar at 61–101 in 1993
1993 San Diego Padres season
-Offseason:* October 8, 1992: Phil Stephenson was released by the Padres.* October 26, 1992: Tony Fernández was traded by the Padres to the New York Mets for Wally Whitehurst, D. J. Dozier, and a player to be named later...
, six games behind the expansion
Expansion team
An expansion team is a brand new team in a sports league. The term is most commonly used in reference to the North American major professional sports leagues, but is applied to sports leagues worldwide that use a closed franchise system of league membership. The term comes from the expansion of the...
Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
. Performing at a 47–70 pace in 1994
1994 San Diego Padres season
The 1994 San Diego Padres season was the 26th season in franchise history.-Offseason:* November 18, 1993: Jarvis Brown was selected off waivers from the Padres by the Atlanta Braves....
, only a players strike prevented them from completing a second consecutive last-place berth.
This sudden free fall in the standings was the result of the decimation of the starting lineup and pitching staff
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
due to cost-cutting measures ordered by Werner and his fellow investors. He explained that the Padres lost $7 million in 1992, even though their receipt of a $12 million share of the expansion fees paid by the Rockies and Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
calculated into a $5 million profit. It was further claimed that the expansion money was used to repay part of a $20 million loan
Loan
A loan is a type of debt. Like all debt instruments, a loan entails the redistribution of financial assets over time, between the lender and the borrower....
that had made the acquisition of the ballclub possible. There was also speculation that the combined wealth of the ownership group was among the highest in the majors at the time.
The reduction of the team's player payroll, known as the Fire Sale of 1993, began on August 31, 1992 when Craig Lefferts
Craig Lefferts
Craig Lindsay Lefferts was a relief pitcher for the Chicago Cubs , San Diego Padres , San Francisco Giants , Baltimore Orioles , Texas Rangers and California Angels...
was traded to the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. In the offseason, Randy Myers
Randy Myers
Randall Kirk Myers is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. During a 14-year baseball career, he pitched from 1985-1998 for the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, and Toronto Blue Jays.-Career:Myers first began his major league career with...
and Benito Santiago
Benito Santiago
Benito Santiago Rivera is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball player. He played for twenty seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball from to , most notably for the San Diego Padres...
were allowed to become free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
s, Tony Fernández
Tony Fernández
Octavio Antonio Fernández Castro , better known as Tony Fernández, is a former Major League Baseball player most noted for his defensive skills setting a record for shortstops with a .992 fielding percentage in 1989.-Career:...
and Mike Maddux
Mike Maddux
Michael Ausley Maddux is a former Major League Baseball pitcher and the pitching coach of the Texas Rangers. He is the older brother of four-time Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux....
were dealt to the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
and Jerald Clark
Jerald Clark
Jerald Dwayne Clark is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He is an alumnus of Lamar University and played for the Lamar Cardinals baseball team....
was selected by the Rockies in the expansion draft. Even though he made a run at the Triple Crown the previous year, Gary Sheffield
Gary Sheffield
Gary Antonian Sheffield , nicknamed "Sheff", is an American retired Major League Baseball outfielder. He played for eight major league ball clubs from 1988 to 2009, primarily as an outfielder.-Biography:...
was sent to the Marlins on June 24, 1993. Less than a month later on July 18, defending NL home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
champion Fred McGriff
Fred McGriff
Frederick Stanley McGriff is a left-handed former Major League Baseball player who starred for several teams from the mid-1980s until the early 2000s. A power-hitting first baseman with a tall, lanky build, the five-time All-Star became, in , the first player since the dead-ball era to lead both...
was shipped to the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. Bruce Hurst
Bruce Hurst
Bruce Vee Hurst is a former Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher. He is best remembered for his brilliant performance for the Boston Red Sox in the postseason. He was even named World Series M.V.P...
and Greg Harris were moved to the Rockies on July 26.
The trade of Darrin Jackson
Darrin Jackson
Darrin "D. J." Jay Jackson is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played 12 years for the Chicago Cubs , San Diego Padres , Toronto Blue Jays , New York Mets , Chicago White Sox , Minnesota Twins and Milwaukee Brewers...
to the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
on March 30, 1993 resulted in a class action
Class action
In law, a class action, a class suit, or a representative action is a form of lawsuit in which a large group of people collectively bring a claim to court and/or in which a class of defendants is being sued...
filed against the Padres. During the previous December, the team sent a letter to season-ticket
Season ticket
A season ticket is a ticket that grants privileges over a defined period of time.-Sport:In sport, a season ticket grants the holder access to all regular-season home games for one season without additional charges. The ticket usually offers a discounted price over purchasing a ticket for each of...
holders assuring them that the maximum effort would be made to retain Jackson. They reneged on its pledge after Jackson won a $2.1 million arbitration award
Arbitration award
An arbitration award is a determination on the merits by an arbitration tribunal in an arbitration, and is analogous to a judgment in a court of law...
in February. Refunds were offered to ticket holders involved in the lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
.
Werner's time as majority owner ended when John Moores
John Moores (baseball)
John Jay Moores is an American entrepreneur and philanthropist, and the owner of the San Diego Padres.-Early years:...
acquired an 80% interest for $80 million on December 22, 1994. Werner retained a 10% share in the franchise until he sold it to Moores before the start of the 2007 season
2007 Major League Baseball season
The 2007 Major League Baseball season, began on April 1 with a rematch of the 2006 National League Championship Series; the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets played the first game of the season at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, which was won by the Mets, 6–1...
.
Fenway Sports Group
Werner is a co-founder and investor with his friend John Henry and Larry LucchinoLarry Lucchino
Lawrence Lucchino, is the current President and CEO of the Boston Red Sox, and a member of John W...
in sports investment and operations company Fenway Sports Group (FSG)
Fenway Sports Group
Fenway Sports Management is a company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts established by Fenway Sports Group in 2004. It styles itself as a "new kind of sports marketing agency," created by FSG to expand its footprint beyond its most famous holdings, the Boston Red Sox of Major League...
. Originally known as New England Sports Ventures, FSG paid $660 million for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
on February 27, 2002. They also purchased Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
and an 80% share in the New England Sports Network (NESN)
New England Sports Network
The New England Sports Network, or NESN [NESS-en], is a regional cable television network that covers the six New England states except Fairfield County, Connecticut and Southbury, Connecticut, a town in New Haven County, Connecticut which is covered by New York City sports networks...
from the Yawkey Family Trust, managed by John Harrington
John Harrington (Red Sox CEO)
John L. Harrington is an American business manager. He was the CEO of the Boston Red Sox.-Early life and career:He graduated from Boston College in 1957, and received his MBA from Boston College in 1966. After college, he was an officer in the U.S. Navy, then worked for both the General Accounting...
. The Red Sox won two World Series since, in 2004 and 2007. In 2010, FSG bought Premier League team Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
from lawyers acting on behalf of the Royal Bank of Scotland
Royal Bank of Scotland
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group is a British banking and insurance holding company in which the UK Government holds an 84% stake. This stake is held and managed through UK Financial Investments Limited, whose voting rights are limited to 75% in order for the bank to retain its listing on the...
, the lenders to former owners George N. Gillett, Jr. and Tom Hicks
Tom Hicks
Thomas Ollis Hicks, Sr. , is an American 'leveraged buyout' businessman living in Dallas, Texas. Despite Forbes Magazine estimating Hicks' wealth at USD 1 billion in 2009, Hicks was unable to pay off joint loans of circa £200 million the following year...
. On 25 November 2010, Liverpool FC announced that Werner would replace Martin Broughton
Martin Broughton
Sir Martin Faulkner Broughton is a British businessman who is the current chairman of British Airways and former chairman of Liverpool Football Club...
as the club's chairman beginning 1 December 2010.