Claire Betz


Claire Smith Betz 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. 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.
The Betz family made its fortunes in Betz Laboratories, a water treatment company based in Pennsylvania.
The Phillies honored Betz with the wearing of a "CB" memorial patch on their uniforms during the 2014 season.

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.