David P. Montgomery (C’68, WG’70) former University of Pennsylvania Trustee and Phillies chairman, died May 8 of cancer. He was 72.

Mr. Montgomery grew up in Roxborough. Baseball provided him with his first paying job. For $2 a day, the 12-year-old cared for a Henry Avenue ball field. He attended Penn Charter School with the $5,000 bequeathed by a grandfather, graduating in 1964. He attended Penn, earning his BA in history before going on to earn his MBA from Wharton.

Mr. Montgomery joined the Phillies in 1971 as a member of the sales team and he rose through the ranks over the years. In 1997, he was named general partner, president and chief executive officer. His tenure brought five division titles, two pennants, the 2008 World Series, and a lucrative, $2.5 billion TV deal. His efforts led to the approval and construction of Citizens Bank Park. In 2008, Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig cited Mr. Montgomery’s role in bringing about a resurgence in the game’s popularity and credited him with helping to create the wild card and revenue-sharing systems. 

Mr. Montgomery served on Penn’s Board of Trustees from 1999 to 2004 on the Neighborhood Initiatives, External Affairs and Student Life committees. He also served as chair of the WXPN Policy Board from 2004 to 2007, playing a key role in facilitating the station’s 2004 move to expanded new facilities. He was an Overseer of the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts for over a decade, becoming Annenberg Overseer Emeritus in 2016. He was active on the Penn Alumni Board of Directors, the Penn Alumni Council, and on the Class of 1968 Gift Committee. He was a longtime season ticket holder for Penn men’s basketball.

David L. Cohen, Chair of Penn’s Board of Trustees, said about Mr. Montgomery: “He graciously spoke on topics ranging from leadership to the economics of sports franchises at student and alumni events, generously offered discounted Phillies tickets to worthy Penn causes, and was always pleased to greet alumni groups attending Phillies games in Philadelphia or at spring training in Florida. He was named Friar of the Year in 1992 for his contributions to Penn and the community, and his stature as one of the University’s most valuable players was underscored in 2009 when he received the Alumni Award of Merit.”

His contributions to Major League Baseball also included service on its Labor Policy, Scheduling, and Enterprises committees. He returned to the Phillies in 2015 as chair after leaving to undergo cancer treatment. His efforts led this April to Philadelphia being selected for the National League Baseball All-Star Game in 2026. In 2018, the Phillies named their indoor training facility in Clearwater, Florida, the David P. Montgomery Baseball Performance Center in his honor. In 2016, he received the Ed Snider Lifetime Distinguished Humanitarian Award from the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association for his life of fundraising and philanthropy.

He is survived by his wife, Lyn; daughter, Susa; and sons, Samuel (C’95) and Harry.

A Memorial will be held on June 6 at Citizens Bank Park at 3:05 p.m.; gates will open at 2 p.m.; parking will be free.