Claire Betz

Claire Smith Betz

• School Villanova University
• High School Mount Saint Joseph Academy
• Born January 11, 1921
• Died February 6, 2014

Biographical Information

Claire Betz was a part-owner of the Philadelphia Phillies. She inherited her portion of ownership from her husband, John D. Betz - who bought his share in 1981 - when he passed away 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.

She was a philanthropist who donated 200 acres of land to the Natural Lands Trust in Pennsylvania.