Ballard F. Smith (born June 20, 1946)[1] is an American former sports executive who was president of the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball from 1979 to 1987.

He was a district attorney in Pennsylvania before starting his sports career as vice president of the San Diego Mariners of the World Hockey Association (WHA).

[3][5] He grew disillusioned with politics, and resigned from his four-year term in 1976 to work in sports management for his stepfather-in-law, Ray Kroc, the owner of the McDonald's hamburger chain.

[4] Ordered to control spending, Smith enabled the 1983 free agent signing of first baseman Steve Garvey after persuading Ace Parking and KFMB-AM radio to invest money in the Padres, convincing them that their revenues would increase if the team succeeded.

Smith commented that the team's potential legal responsibility along with a 3,000 percent rise in liability insurance in eight years led to the decision.