Tom Werner

Werner's entry into sports team ownership came when he and 14 other Southern California-based investors purchased the San Diego Padres from McDonald's heiress Joan Kroc for US$75 million on June 14, 1990.[6] As holder of the largest financial stake in the ballclub, he served as the team's general managing partner.[7] It was a difficult period economically in Major League Baseball, which was riven by the financial disparity between small- and large-market franchises and ultimately cancelled the 1994 World Series because of a work stoppage that carried into the following season.[8] Werner was appointed to Major League Baseball's Executive Council and was chairman of MLB's television negotiating committee, where he was an early proponent of the wild-card format that was first implemented in 1995.[9]

Just under six weeks into his new ownership role, he 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. He had invited Roseanne Barr, the eponymous star of one of his sitcoms, to perform The Star-Spangled Banner on an evening billed as Working Women's Night at the ballpark. 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 fans and sportswriters, some of whom called it either the "Barr-Mangled Banner" or the "Barr-Strangled Banner."[10][11]

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.[10] After a pair of winning seasons with third-place finishes in 1991 and 1992,[12] the team fell precipitously into the NL West cellar at 61–101 in 1993, six games behind the expansion Colorado Rockies.[13] It was on its way to a second consecutive last-place finish at 47–70, but a players strike prematurely ended the 1994 campaign.[14]

Critics at the time attributed this sudden free fall in the standings to cost-cutting measures ordered by Werner and his fellow investors. The so-called Fire Sale of 1993[10] 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 agents, Tony Fernández and Mike Maddux were dealt to the New York Mets and Jerald Clark was selected by the Rockies in the expansion draft.[15] Gary Sheffield was sent to the Marlins on June 24, 1993, Fred McGriff was shipped to the Atlanta Braves. Bruce Hurst and Greg Harris were moved to the Rockies on July 26.[14] 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. Economic circumstances changed, however, after Jackson won a $2.1-million arbitration award in February. Refunds were offered to ticket holders involved in the lawsuit.[15][14]

Werner's term as majority owner ended when John Moores acquired an 80% interest for $80 million on December 22, 1994.[16] Werner retained a 10% share in the franchise until he sold it to Moores before the start of the 2007 season.[17]

Werner returned to baseball in 2001, part of a group that included former Orioles and Padres CEO Larry Lucchino and Florida Marlins owner John W. Henry which made a successful bid to purchase the Boston Red Sox. Their bid, which totaled $700 million (including $40 million in assumed debt) was accepted by MLB on December 20, 2001, with formal approval coming on February 27, 2002.[18] Henry served as principal owner, Werner was named chairman and Lucchino became club president and CEO, a collaboration that generated a historic level of success.[19]

The new ownership group had been the only prospective purchasers committed to saving Fenway Park, the team's historic home, and after three years of making substantial improvements to the ballpark, the owners made a long-term commitment to remain in Fenway, leading to more than $400 million in improvements during the first 17 years of their tenure.[20]

After the ballclub spent the 2002 season under interim GM Mike Port, who replaced Dan Duquette, the new ownership group promoted 28-year-old Theo Epstein, making him the youngest GM in baseball history.[21] The Red Sox lost the 2003 ALCS in seven games to the New York Yankees in Epstein's first season, but under new manager Terry Francona overcame a three games to none deficit to the New York Yankees to win the 2004 ALCS, then defeated the St. Louis Cardinals for their first World Series title since 1918. World Series titles followed in 2007, 2013 and 2018.

After leaving the Red Sox in 2011, Francona criticized Werner for his focus on TV ratings, quoting Werner in an 2010 meeting as saying: "We need to start winning in a more exciting fashion."[22] Francona also criticized Werner for exaggerating his role in Red Sox management:

Werner was constantly trying to assert his importance. When the Henry group first purchased the Red Sox, Werner hired a public relations firm to get his name in the local newspapers. When stories were written about Henry or the Red Sox, he was known to call writers and ask, "Why didn't you mention me in your story?"[22]

In 2010, the ownership group of Henry, Lucchino, and Werner 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.[23] On November 25, 2010, Liverpool F.C. announced that Werner would be installed as chairman, replacing Martin Broughton, beginning December 1, 2010.[24]

In May 2012, Werner made a controversial decision by sacking manager and club icon Kenny Dalglish citing the club's poor league results. This was regarded as a poor decision by football experts such as BBC's Alan Hansen given Dalglish's success in lifting the club from 4 points above the relegation zone to a League Cup win and an FA Cup Finals appearance in just over a season. Swansea City's former manager, Brendan Rodgers, filled Dalglish's boots helping Liverpool finish 2nd in the 2013–14 Premier League that also earned a spot in the UEFA Champions league after a 5-year absence.[25][26][27] Rodgers was sacked just over a year later after failing to qualify for the Champions League a second time, due partially to the sale of Luiz Suarez to F.C. Barcelona, and a disappointing start to the subsequent season.[28]

German manager Jürgen Klopp was named his replacement. According to El País, co-owner John Henry did not trust public opinion, so he looked for a mathematical method very similar to Moneyball, which turned out to be Cambridge physicist Ian Graham's mathematical model to select the coach and players essential for Liverpool to win the UEFA Champions League.[29] In his first year in charge Klopp led the team to the Football League Cup Final and UEFA Europa League during the 2015–16 season. In 2017–18, despite the sale of Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona mid-season, Liverpool reached the 2018 UEFA Champions League Final which was their first time in 11 years. In the 2018–19 season, Liverpool finished second to Manchester City in the Premier League race by one point, and went on to win the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final to claim their sixth title in the competition which was also the first trophy under Klopp's management.[30][31] After the European Cup win, Klopp signed a contract extension to 2024.[32] In June 2020, following a prolonged season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Liverpool won the Premier League, their first ever Premier League title and their first top division league title since 1990.[33]