Dewey Soriano
Dewey Soriano (born February 8, 1920 - died April 6, 1998 in Seattle, Washington) was the part-owner of the Seattle Pilots baseball team of the American League in 1969, the franchise's only year in Seattle.
Prior to owning the Pilots, Soriano served as president of both the Pacific Coast League and the Western International League. Soriano also pitched in the minor leagues for several years before becoming the owner and player-manager of the Yakima Bears.
When Soriano won the Pilots expansion franchise, he didn't have enough money to pay the franchise fee. In what proved to be a harbinger of things to come, he had to ask for help from former Cleveland Indians owner William R. Daley—who, ironically, had nearly moved the Indians to Seattle earlier in the 1960s. In return, Soriano sold Daley a 47 percent stake in the team, making him the largest shareholder. Soriano, however, retained the team presidency. Largely due to being badly undercapitalized, Soriano was nearly out of money by the end of the 1969 season.
Almost as soon as the season ended, it was apparent that Soriano wouldn't be able to hold out before moving to a new stadium. It was also apparent that the timetable for a new park would have to be significantly advanced, as the Pilots' temporary home, Sick's Stadium, was completely inadequate even for temporary use. Soriano put the Pilots on the market, but no credible offers surfaced from Seattle interests. Out of desperation, Soriano cut a deal to sell the franchise to a Milwaukee-based group led by Bud Selig. However, legal action dragged out throughout the 1969-1970 offseason. Ultimately, Soriano took the team into bankruptcy, clearing the way for Selig to take control and move the Pilots to Milwaukee as the Milwaukee Brewers. (Seattle would get the Mariners expansion team in 1977.)
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