Phillies: World Series-winning president Ruly Carpenter passes away

Ruly Carpenter, 1980 Phillies team president, has passed away.

Former Philadelphia Phillies team president Ruly Carpenter — who was at the helm of the organization during its first World Series championship season in 1980 — has passed away at 81 years of age.

The Carpenter family had owned the Phillies ever since 1943, when Ruly’s grandfather brought the team and named his son, Robert (Bob) R.M. Carpenter, Jr., president. Ruly succeeded his dad in 1972.

The then-32-year-old would go on to oversee the greatest period in Phillies history to that point — including three consecutive NLCS appearances from 1976-78, the franchise’s first-ever World Series championship in 1980, and an NLDS finish in 1981. In 1979, Ruly famously signed Major League Baseball’s eventual “hit king,” Pete Rose, to a four-year, $3.2 million contract.

Just months after the World Series victory — in early March 1981 — Carpenter shocked the organization by announcing that his family was going to sell the club they had owned for nearly 40 years. After the season, the organization sold to a group organized by executive vice president Bill Giles.

Phillies Team Presidents Since Ruly Carpenter

• William Y . Giles — 1981-97
• David P . Montgomery — 1997-2014
• Pat Gillick — 2014-15
• Andy MacPhail — 2015-present

When the Phils named their indoor training facility after the late Montgomery at their Clearwater-based minor league/spring training Carpenter Complex — which in itself is named after Ruly and his family — Managing Partner John Middleton described Ruly as one of “two key architects” of the organization’s first World Series title.

“Our minor league complex in Clearwater has many Phillies legends attached to it. Among them are Ruly Carpenter and Paul Owens,” Middleton said.

Coincidentally, Ruly recommended to his dad in 1965 that he appoint eventual then-scout Owens as farm director. The rest is history, as Owens would go on to also become general manager, manager and senior advisor in the organization.

The Phillies issued the following statement on Tuesday morning: