Claire Betz Explained

Claire Smith Betz (January 11, 1921 – February 6, 2014) was a part-owner of the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team.

She inherited her part-ownership from her husband, John Betz – who bought his share of the team in 1981 – when he died in 1990. According to Bill Conlin, she had a 33% stake in the team in 2007, making her the largest stakeholder of the ownership group.^{[1] [2]} She was part of the cabal of Phillies owners known as the "Phantom Five", so-called because of their reclusiveness and lack of involvement in Phillies affairs.^[3]

The Betz family made its fortunes in Betz Laboratories, a water treatment company based in Pennsylvania.^[3]

The Phillies honored Betz with the wearing of a "CB" memorial patch on their uniforms during the 2014 season.^{[4] [5] [6]}

Personal life and other endeavors

Betz attended Mount Saint Joseph Academy and then Villanova University. She was a philanthropist who donated 200 acres of land to the Natural Lands Trust.^[7]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Butler. Scott. Who are the Phillies owners?. Phils Baseball. April 2, 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140228040109/http://www.philsbaseball.com/Articles/2010/Off_season/phillies_owners.php. February 28, 2014.
2. Web site: Conlin. Bill. Phils' part-owner has money to burn. Philadelphia Daily News. April 2, 2014.
3. Web site: Philadelphia Phillies Owners: The Phantom Five. Philadelphia. Metro Corp.. April 2, 2014.
4. Web site: Shenk. Larry. Good-bye Clearwater. April 2, 2014.
5. Web site: Phillies wearing CB memorial patch. April 2, 2014.
6. Web site: The CB Team Would Like to Thank the Phillies for Paying Homage to Their Favorite Site This Season. April 2, 2014.
7. Web site: Claire Smith Betz Obituary. Legacy.com. April 2, 2014.