SAN FRANCISCO -- Allan G. Byer, an original investor in the Giants’ ownership group that helped keep the club in San Francisco, died Thursday morning. He was 91.

“Sad day,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “I had a lot of fun with Allan. He just had a great wit. What a tremendous job he did over here with Cooperstown [S.F.], the Giants' Hall of Fame [exhibit]. He was good to me. Great family. My condolences to the family.”

In 2014, Byer created Cooperstown S.F., a Hall of Fame exhibit space located across the street from Oracle Park that displays baseball memorabilia and has a special section devoted to Giants icons such as Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Juan Marichal, Orlando Cepeda and Gaylord Perry.

“Allan was one of the original investors who helped to save the team for San Francisco back in 1992 and helped build Oracle Park. He was a leader among our ownership group known for his wit, candor, generosity and passion for the community,” Giants acting CEO Rob Dean said in a statement. “Beyond his love of baseball and the Giants, he dedicated his time and energy to the Giants Community Fund as a longtime board member and supporter. He will be deeply missed by the entire Giants family and our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Marian, his four children Amy, Jan, Phil, Alex and their families.”

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1927, Byer graduated from the Ohio State University School of Business in 1949 and served in the U.S. Navy. In 1964, he founded Byer California, a key supplier of girls fashion to leading department stores. Byer was part of the new ownership group that bought the Giants from Bob Lurie in 1992. His son, Philip Byer, currently represents the family on the Giants’ board of directors.

Byer also established Byer Properties, which owns and operates community shopping centers in Cupertino and Santa Clara, as well as 128 King Street, the home of Cooperstown S.F.

Byer helped construct the Peninsula Jewish Community Center in Foster City and the new Mills-Peninsula Medical Center in Burlingame. He previously served on the board of the San Francisco Campus for Jewish Living and was also a member of the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in Columbus, Ohio.

Services are pending. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Byer to the Giants Community Fund at jrgiants.org or to Peninsula Temple Sholom at sholom.org.