Ted Lerner has stepped down as the managing principal owner of the Washington Nationals, and his son, Mark D. Lerner, has been named to the role in his place.
The Nationals announced Thursday that the younger Lerner was approved at Major League Baseball’s quarterly owners’ meeting to take the reins as the organization’s official “control person.”
The Lerner family has owned the Nationals since they moved to Washington from Montreal in 2006. The elder Lerner, 92, was born and raised in the District and made his career as a real estate developer.
“Owning a baseball team in my hometown had long been a dream of mine,” Ted Lerner said in a statement. “Twelve years ago, when Major League Baseball selected my family as the owners of the Washington Nationals, I could not have been happier. I always knew that someday my son, Mark, would take over my role as Managing Principal Owner. That day has come. I look forward to watching him take the helm and help lead this team to a world championship.”
“Baseball has long been my passion,” Mark Lerner said. “Since being awarded the team in 2006, my family has taken great pride in our fans and this team. We have always strived for excellence both on and off the field. That will not change. Our family will continue to put our fans first and do everything possible to bring a World Series trophy to D.C. It is incredibly special for my mother and father to be able to see me take the helm. And it means so much to me that they chose to make this change now.”
A team spokesman told The Washington Times that Ted Lerner is not retiring or stepping away from the team altogether, and his health was not a factor in the decision.
• Adam Zielonka can be reached at azielonka@washingtontimes.com.
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