BALTIMORE — A week after one son’s lawsuit described her as isolated and indecisive, the wife of ailing Orioles owner Peter Angelos and her other son met with Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, who was reassured about her oversight of the team as part of her control over her husband’s assets, people with knowledge of the meeting told The Baltimore Sun.
The normally private Georgia Angelos, 80, and club Chairman and CEO John Angelos met June 16 with Manfred and Dan Halem, a deputy commissioner, at a New York hotel as a baseball owners’ meeting wrapped up the same day, according to an official close to the team.
The hourlong meeting was confirmed by an MLB representative, who said the league had no concerns about her leadership. The official and league representative asked to remain anonymous because the meeting was private.
Georgia Angelos, who has been married to her husband 56 years, is a central figure in the explosive suit brought by her son Louis Angelos, 52, against her and John Angelos, 55, over control of the team and other holdings. As his health faltered, Peter Angelos, whose 93rd birthday was the Fourth of July, granted her power of attorney in 2017 “to act in my place in all matters,” according to a document included with the June 9 lawsuit in Baltimore County Circuit Court.
While Peter Angelos remains the team owner, her role as his “attorney-in-fact” — she is also controlling trustee in his trust that includes the Orioles — effectively gives her the same oversight authority as her husband previously had.
The lawsuit cast doubt on her stewardship, alleging she was intimidated by John Angelos because he needed her “acquiescence” to seize control of the club. “He harangued her over the telephone, angrily feeding her half-truths and outright fabrications that paralyzed her with confusion, fear and indecision,” the suit says. It says that, with Peter Angelos no longer at the helm, John was able to appoint himself chairman and CEO in 2020.
Georgia Angelos could not be reached for comment through the family or the team. But in a June 15 statement issued through the team, she said she elevated John Angelos to his current position, and he “has led the organization thoughtfully and effectively.”
It was at her direction, her statement continued, that John Angelos worked with the Maryland Stadium Authority and others to secure General Assembly approval of legislation this year providing up to $600 million in bond authority for future upgrades to Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Jeffrey E. Nusinov, an attorney representing Louis Angelos, could not be reached for comment Tuesday morning through an email and a text.
In 2020, MLB owners approved John Angelos as “control person,” meaning he is the top executive responsible for the team.
MLB has not commented publicly on the family feud. The league gives teams leeway to run themselves, generally getting involved only when there are rules violations, malfeasance or other activity that could damage the brand.
While there was no mandate from MLB to meet with Georgia Angelos, the official close to the club said it wanted her to appear with league brass to “further confirm” her ability and desire to represent her husband in the club’s affairs.
The MLB representative said the league embraced the idea “of hearing from her directly on what was going on.”
Georgia Angelos is known to guard her privacy. She said in her statement that, “I have always believed that family disputes and concerns should remain among family members.”
