Fred Wilpon is a former co-owner of the New York Mets baseball team. He began his career in baseball as a minority owner of the team in 1980, and eventually became the majority owner in 2002. Wilpon was known for his passion for the sport and his dedication to the Mets organization.
During his tenure as owner, Wilpon oversaw the construction of Citi Field, the Mets' new stadium, which opened in 2009. He also made several high-profile player acquisitions, including the signing of pitcher Pedro Martinez in 2005 and the trade for outfielder Carlos Beltran in 2004.
However, Wilpon's ownership was not without controversy. In 2008, he and his business partner, Saul Katz, were sued by victims of Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme, which had affected their investment firm. The lawsuit alleged that Wilpon and Katz had ignored warning signs about Madoff's fraudulent activities. The case was eventually settled for $162 million.
In addition, the Mets struggled on the field during Wilpon's ownership, with only two playoff appearances and one World Series appearance in 2015. The team also faced financial difficulties, with Wilpon and Katz reportedly losing money on the team in recent years.
In 2020, Wilpon and Katz announced that they were selling the Mets to billionaire Steve Cohen for a reported $2.4 billion. The sale was approved by Major League Baseball in November of that year.
Overall, Fred Wilpon's career in baseball was marked by both successes and challenges. While he oversaw the construction of a new stadium and made several high-profile player acquisitions, he also faced controversy and financial difficulties during his ownership of the Mets.
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