Bill Giles, Phillies executive who helped create the Phanatic, dies at 92

Bill Giles, the longtime Philadelphia Phillies executive and former team owner credited with helping bring Pete Rose to the club and with helping create the Phillie Phanatic mascot, has died at the age of 92.

Giles spent decades in senior roles with the Phillies organization, where he became known as one of the more influential front-office figures in the franchise's history. Among the moves associated with his tenure was the signing of Pete Rose, whose arrival in Philadelphia became one of the most notable transactions in the team's history.

Giles is also remembered for his role in the creation of the Phillie Phanatic, the mascot that debuted with the team and went on to become one of the most recognizable figures in Major League Baseball. The Phanatic has remained a fixture of Phillies games for decades and is often cited as one of the sport's most successful mascots.

News of Giles' death was reported by ESPN. Further details on his career and the circumstances of his death were not immediately available.

Tributes are expected from across the baseball world as fans and former colleagues reflect on his decades-long association with the Phillies organization.