The Padres, as the San Diego Union wrote, “officially went Hollywood” on April 2, 1990, as Joan Kroc announced she was selling the team to an investment group fronted by television producer Tom Werner.
Before that, the McDonald’s heiress tried to give the Padres to the city of San Diego.
Because of course she did.
The Krocs’ philanthropic endeavors including donating $87 million to The Salvation Army to open a community center in San Diego’s Rolando neighborhood. Joan’s estate later bequeathed $1.5 billion after her death in 2003 so similar centers could be built across the country, as well as $225 million to National Public Radio and $50 million each to peace studies institutes that were named for her at USD and Notre Dame.