Jerold Hoffberger

Jerold Charles Hoffberger (April 7, 1919 – April 9, 1999) was an American businessman. He was president of the National Brewing Company from 1946 to 1973. He was also part-owner of the Baltimore Orioles of the American League from 1954 to 1965, and majority owner from 1965 to 1979.

Biography Hoffberger was a lifelong resident of Baltimore, Maryland, and was Jewish. He was the only son of his father Samuel, a lawyer who was active in the Democratic Party and a major shareholder and board chairman of National Brewing. His grandfather Charles had been a local merchant who sold wood, coal and ice. Hoffberger attended the University of Virginia. During World War II, he served in the United States Army with the 1st Armored Division in Africa, France and Italy, where he was wounded near Lake Bracciano, northwest of Rome. Jerold Hoffberger was also involved in the Battle of Monte Cassino.

Even though the Orioles were a success on the diamond, the team struggled financially because of lagging attendance. Looking to sell his ballclub and brewery, Hoffberger engaged in talks for three months with the Labatt Brewing Company, which was attempting to entice a major-league franchise to move to Toronto. Negotiations ended when National agreed to a merger with Carling Brewery on October 14, 1975, and a result of the consolidation was Hoffberger becoming chairman and chief executive officer of the newly formed Carling National Breweries, Inc. He retained ownership of the Orioles, which were not included in the transaction, but could not sell the team without company approval.

Hoffberger cast the lone dissenting ballot when the American League owners voted to award the Toronto expansion franchise to an investment group led by Labatt on March 26, 1976. He had arranged the only other competing bid, which was fronted by Phil Granovsky, chairman of the Atlantic Packaging Company, and had the potential financial support of Carling's advertising money, but the attempt wasn't successful due to the Labatt's group having nearly purchased the San Francisco Giants with the intention of transferring it to Toronto. Hoffberger stated, "It was just not in the best interests of my company for Labatt’s to get the franchise."

When Baltimore Oriole star Frank Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982, he made reference to Hoffberger. He said that after a game, Hoffberger "wouldn't come over and slap you on the back and say nice game-winning home run, nice double, nice play or whatever. The first words out of his mouth were: 'How are you? How's your family? Is there anything I can do for you?'." with the transaction being approved unanimously by American League team owners weeks later on October 22. The Orioles in his final year of ownership fell one victory short of winning the 1979 World Series, set a new franchise season attendance record and earned a $1.5 million profit.

Later life Hoffberger was known for his charitable contributions, which included assistance to Johns Hopkins Hospital, the University of Maryland and Goucher College. Town & Country magazine estimated in 1983 that he had donated more than $10 million to charities.

Hoffberger died at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, two days after his 80th birthday.