SAN FRANCISCO -- Peter Magowan, the owner who brought Barry Bonds to San Francisco, built a new ballpark and kept major league baseball in the city, is stepping down as managing partner of the Giants.

Magowan called the decision a tough one, but said it was time to spend more time with the family.

"The decision to retire was not an easy one," he said. "But it is the right one for my family and me. I have spent 20 years as head of two incredible organizations --- Safeway and the Giants... As the Giants begin their next 50 years I believe they are in good hards."

The team called a news conference for Friday to reveal Magowan would retire from his duties at the end of this season, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because a formal announcement had yet to be made.

Magowan's future plans were not immediately known.

The 66-year-old Magowan, one of the more public owners in baseball, was mentioned in the Mitchell Report that came out in December. Magowan then met with commissioner Bud Selig during spring training about whether members of the Giants' front office knew players were allegedly using steroids and performance-enhancing drugs.

The decision to bring Bonds to San Francisco came soon after Magowan bought the team before the 1993 season. The Giants were close to moving to Florida before Magowan's group bought the team from Bob Lurie.

The addition of Bonds revitalized baseball in San Francisco and contributed to the opening of the franchise's privately funded waterfront ballpark in 2000. Last summer, the Giants hosted the All-Star game.

Bonds became baseball's home run king last year. He has since been indicted, accused of lying to a grand jury about his alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Magowan parted ways with the slugger and seven-time NL MVP in September, about a month after Bonds broke Hank Aaron's record with No. 756.

The Giants made the playoffs four times under Magowan's rule. In 2002, they came close to winning their first World Series since moving West in 1958, falling five outs short in Game 6 against the Angels.