Bud Selig: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Major League Baseball Commissioner from 1992 to 2015}} | {{Short description|Major League Baseball Commissioner from 1992 to 2015 (born 1934)}} | ||
{{Use American English|date=November 2025}} | |||
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}} | {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}} | ||
{{Infobox officeholder | {{Infobox officeholder | ||
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|birth_name=Allan Huber Selig | |birth_name=Allan Huber Selig | ||
|birth_date={{birth date and age|mf=yes|1934|7|30}} | |birth_date={{birth date and age|mf=yes|1934|7|30}} | ||
|birth_place=[[Milwaukee, Wisconsin | |birth_place=[[Milwaukee]], Wisconsin, U.S. | ||
|death_date= | |death_date= | ||
|death_place= | |death_place= | ||
|death_cause= | |death_cause= | ||
| office = Commissioner [[Emeritus]] of Baseball | | office = Commissioner [[Emeritus]] of Baseball | ||
| | | term_label = Life tenure | ||
| term_start = January 25, 2015 | | term_start = January 25, 2015 | ||
| term_end = | | term_end = | ||
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'''Allan Huber''' "'''Bud'''" '''Selig'''<ref name="SI-Posnanski">{{cite magazine |last=Posnanski |first=Joe |author-link=Joe Posnanski |date=October 29, 2008 |title=In appreciation of Bud Selig |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/joe_posnanski/10/29/selig/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029212811/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/joe_posnanski/10/29/selig/index.html |archive-date=October 29, 2008 |access-date=November 13, 2008 |magazine=Time}}</ref><ref name="USAToday">{{cite news|last=Bodley|first=Hal | '''Allan Huber''' "'''Bud'''" '''Selig'''<ref name="SI-Posnanski">{{cite magazine |last=Posnanski |first=Joe |author-link=Joe Posnanski |date=October 29, 2008 |title=In appreciation of Bud Selig |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/joe_posnanski/10/29/selig/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029212811/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/joe_posnanski/10/29/selig/index.html |archive-date=October 29, 2008 |access-date=November 13, 2008 |magazine=Time}}</ref><ref name="USAToday">{{cite news|last=Bodley|first=Hal | ||
|title=Selig: Creature of habit, agent of change|work=USA Today|date=March 27, 2007|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2007-03-26-selig_N.htm|access-date=November 13, 2008}} | |title=Selig: Creature of habit, agent of change|work=USA Today|date=March 27, 2007|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2007-03-26-selig_N.htm|access-date=November 13, 2008}} | ||
</ref><ref name="Encarta">{{cite encyclopedia |year=2008 |title=Bud Selig |encyclopedia=Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2008 |publisher=Microsoft Corporation |url=http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_1741502266/bud_selig.html |access-date=November 13, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091031234838/http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_1741502266/Bud_Selig.html |archive-date=October 31, 2009 |author=}}</ref> ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|iː|l|ᵻ|ɡ}}; born July 30, 1934) is an American baseball executive who currently serves as the commissioner emeritus of baseball. Previously, he served as the ninth [[commissioner of baseball]] from 1998 to 2015. He initially served as de facto acting commissioner beginning in 1992 in his capacity as chairman of the [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) Executive Committee before being named the official commissioner in 1998.<ref name="Extension">{{cite news |first1=Andrew |last1=Bagnato |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/01/17/sports/s105517S11.DTL |title=Selig Given 3-Year Contract Extension |work=SFGate |date=January 18, 2008 |access-date=October 17, 2009 |url-status = dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090521115859/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fn%2Fa%2F2008%2F01%2F17%2Fsports%2Fs105517S11.DTL |archive-date=May 21, 2009 }}</ref> Selig oversaw baseball through the [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike|1994 strike]], the introduction of the [[Major League Baseball wild card|wild card]], [[interleague play]], and the de facto merging of the [[National League (baseball)|National]] and [[American League]] | </ref><ref name="Encarta">{{cite encyclopedia |year=2008 |title=Bud Selig |encyclopedia=Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2008 |publisher=Microsoft Corporation |url=http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_1741502266/bud_selig.html |access-date=November 13, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091031234838/http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_1741502266/Bud_Selig.html |archive-date=October 31, 2009 |author=}}</ref> ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|iː|l|ᵻ|ɡ}}; born July 30, 1934) is an American [[baseball]] executive who currently serves as the commissioner emeritus of baseball. Previously, he served as the ninth [[commissioner of baseball]] from 1998 to 2015. He initially served as de facto acting commissioner beginning in 1992 in his capacity as chairman of the [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) Executive Committee before being named the official commissioner in 1998.<ref name="Extension">{{cite news |first1=Andrew |last1=Bagnato |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/01/17/sports/s105517S11.DTL |title=Selig Given 3-Year Contract Extension |work=SFGate |date=January 18, 2008 |access-date=October 17, 2009 |url-status = dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090521115859/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fn%2Fa%2F2008%2F01%2F17%2Fsports%2Fs105517S11.DTL |archive-date=May 21, 2009 }}</ref> Selig oversaw baseball through the [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike|1994 strike]], the introduction of the [[Major League Baseball wild card|wild card]], [[interleague play]], and the de facto merging of the [[National League (baseball)|National]] and [[American League|American]] leagues under the Office of the Commissioner. He was instrumental in organizing the [[World Baseball Classic]] in 2006.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rhoden |first=William C. |date=2009-03-23 |title=Selig Looks to Classic to Cement His Legacy |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/23/sports/baseball/23rhoden.html |access-date=2023-04-18 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Selig also introduced [[revenue sharing]].<ref name="Selig best">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/columnist/bodley/2004-08-20-bodley_x.htm |title=Selig emerges as the best of all of baseball's bosses |publisher=Usatoday.com |date=August 20, 2004 |access-date=October 17, 2009}}</ref> He is credited for the financial turnaround of baseball during his tenure with a 400 percent increase in the revenue of MLB and annual record-breaking attendance.<ref name="Extension" /> | ||
During Selig's term of service, [[Doping in baseball|the use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs]] became a public issue. The [[Mitchell Report]], commissioned by Selig, concluded that the MLB commissioners, club officials, the [[Major League Baseball Players Association|Players Association]], and the players all share "to some extent in the responsibility for the steroid era."<ref name="report_pg_conc">{{cite web |url=http://files.mlb.com/mitchrpt.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://files.mlb.com/mitchrpt.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |title=Mitchell Report |pages=310–311 |access-date=December 13, 2007}}</ref> Following the release of the Mitchell Report, Congressman [[Cliff Stearns]] called publicly for Selig to step down as commissioner, citing his "glacial response" to the "growing stain on baseball."<ref name="Extension" /> Selig has pledged on numerous occasions to rid baseball of performance-enhancing drugs, and has overseen and instituted many rule changes and penalties to that end.<ref>{{cite news|url= | During Selig's term of service, [[Doping in baseball|the use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs]] became a public issue. The [[Mitchell Report]], commissioned by Selig, concluded that the MLB commissioners, club officials, the [[Major League Baseball Players Association|Players Association]], and the players all share "to some extent in the responsibility for the steroid era."<ref name="report_pg_conc">{{cite web |url=http://files.mlb.com/mitchrpt.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://files.mlb.com/mitchrpt.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |title=Mitchell Report |pages=310–311 |access-date=December 13, 2007}}</ref> Following the release of the Mitchell Report, Congressman [[Cliff Stearns]] called publicly for Selig to step down as commissioner, citing his "glacial response" to the "growing stain on baseball."<ref name="Extension" /> Selig has pledged on numerous occasions to rid baseball of performance-enhancing drugs, and has overseen and instituted many rule changes and penalties to that end.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Selig-unlikely-to-penalize-Giants-execs-3233226.php |title=Selig unlikely to penalize Giants execs Assigning blame could be difficult |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=December 15, 2007 |access-date=October 17, 2009 |first=Henry |last=Schulman}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=February 2011}} | ||
A Milwaukee native, Selig was previously the owner and team president of the [[Milwaukee Brewers]]. The franchise, originally known as the [[Seattle Pilots]], was acquired by Selig in bankruptcy court in 1970, and renamed after the [[Milwaukee Brewers (minor league baseball team)|minor league team of the same name]] that he had watched in his youth and had existed until the arrival of the [[Atlanta Braves|Braves]] in Milwaukee in 1953. Selig was credited with keeping baseball in Milwaukee. The Brewers went to the [[1982 World Series]] (but were defeated in seven games by the [[St. Louis Cardinals]]), and Selig won seven Organization of the Year awards during his tenure. Selig remains a resident of Milwaukee. | A Milwaukee native, Selig was previously the owner and team president of the [[Milwaukee Brewers]]. The franchise, originally known as the [[Seattle Pilots]], was acquired by Selig in bankruptcy court in 1970, and renamed after the [[Milwaukee Brewers (minor league baseball team)|minor league team of the same name]] that he had watched in his youth and had existed until the arrival of the [[Atlanta Braves|Braves]] in Milwaukee in 1953. Selig was credited with keeping baseball in Milwaukee. The Brewers went to the [[1982 World Series]] (but were defeated in seven games by the [[St. Louis Cardinals]]), and Selig won seven Organization of the Year awards during his tenure. Selig remains a resident of Milwaukee. | ||
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Selig has been widely criticized for not taking an active enough role to stem the tide of steroid use in baseball until it had blossomed into a debilitating problem for the industry. ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' columnist [[Jay Mariotti]] called Selig the "Steroids Commissioner."<ref>[http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mariotti/742620,mariotti011608.article Selig's only legacy: S-T-E-R-O-I-D-S] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324132320/http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mariotti/742620%2Cmariotti011608.article |date=March 24, 2008 }}</ref> Selig has been called to [[United States Congress|Congress]] several times to testify on performance-enhancing drug use. Congressman [[Cliff Stearns]] said in December 2007 that Selig should resign because of use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball during his tenure.<ref name="Extension"/> | Selig has been widely criticized for not taking an active enough role to stem the tide of steroid use in baseball until it had blossomed into a debilitating problem for the industry. ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' columnist [[Jay Mariotti]] called Selig the "Steroids Commissioner."<ref>[http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mariotti/742620,mariotti011608.article Selig's only legacy: S-T-E-R-O-I-D-S] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324132320/http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mariotti/742620%2Cmariotti011608.article |date=March 24, 2008 }}</ref> Selig has been called to [[United States Congress|Congress]] several times to testify on performance-enhancing drug use. Congressman [[Cliff Stearns]] said in December 2007 that Selig should resign because of use of performance-enhancing drugs in baseball during his tenure.<ref name="Extension"/> | ||
=== | === Postseason schedule === | ||
Selig's decision to extend the traditional | Selig's decision to extend the traditional postseason schedule into November in an attempt to increase Nielsen ratings was met with widespread disdain, both inside and outside the baseball community. [[Mike Scioscia]], manager of the American League West Division Champion Los Angeles Angels, dismissed the decision, saying: "Ridiculous. I don't know. Can I say it any clearer than that? We should have never had a day off last Wednesday. We should never have three days off after the season. You shouldn't even have two days off after the season."<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/25/sports/baseball/25yankees.html?hpw "Another Day Off for Yankees and Angels, and It’s Not Exactly Welcome"] ''[[The New York Times]]'', October 25, 2009</ref> | ||
=== Controversies === | === Controversies === | ||
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During the [[2011 Los Angeles Dodgers ownership dispute]], he was accused of not acting in good faith towards and treating the Dodgers differently from other teams when he rejected the television deal that [[Frank McCourt (executive)|Frank McCourt]] negotiated that intended to bring the franchise out of bankruptcy, claiming McCourt violated the Baseball Agreement. In comparison, no action was taken against [[New York Mets]] owner [[Fred Wilpon]] despite being in a similar position. United States bankruptcy judge Kevin Gross rendered a stern warning to Selig, stating: "Should the Commissioner falter in proving alleged wrongdoing, the Court may allow LAD (Los Angeles Dodgers) to take further, limited discovery."<ref>{{cite web|author=Bill Shaikin |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2011-oct-07-la-sp-dodgers-mccourt-20111008-story.html |title=Judge sides with MLB, but warns Bud Selig |work=Los Angeles Times |date=October 17, 2011 |access-date=November 16, 2011}}</ref> Some critics have used Selig's handling of the Dodgers to point out a double standard in treatment of MLB owners. More specifically in regards to the Mets, critics have accused Selig of favoritism towards the Mets due to Selig's personal relationship with Wilpon, claiming that it motivated him to stall any possible removal of Wilpon as that club's principal owner.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Span |first1=Emma |title=In final days, Bud Selig keeps turning blind eye to Mets' mess |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2014/09/18/bud-selig-jeff-wilpon-new-york-mets-lawsuit |access-date=May 17, 2024 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |date=September 18, 2014}}</ref> | During the [[2011 Los Angeles Dodgers ownership dispute]], he was accused of not acting in good faith towards and treating the Dodgers differently from other teams when he rejected the television deal that [[Frank McCourt (executive)|Frank McCourt]] negotiated that intended to bring the franchise out of bankruptcy, claiming McCourt violated the Baseball Agreement. In comparison, no action was taken against [[New York Mets]] owner [[Fred Wilpon]] despite being in a similar position. United States bankruptcy judge Kevin Gross rendered a stern warning to Selig, stating: "Should the Commissioner falter in proving alleged wrongdoing, the Court may allow LAD (Los Angeles Dodgers) to take further, limited discovery."<ref>{{cite web|author=Bill Shaikin |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2011-oct-07-la-sp-dodgers-mccourt-20111008-story.html |title=Judge sides with MLB, but warns Bud Selig |work=Los Angeles Times |date=October 17, 2011 |access-date=November 16, 2011}}</ref> Some critics have used Selig's handling of the Dodgers to point out a double standard in treatment of MLB owners. More specifically in regards to the Mets, critics have accused Selig of favoritism towards the Mets due to Selig's personal relationship with Wilpon, claiming that it motivated him to stall any possible removal of Wilpon as that club's principal owner.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Span |first1=Emma |title=In final days, Bud Selig keeps turning blind eye to Mets' mess |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2014/09/18/bud-selig-jeff-wilpon-new-york-mets-lawsuit |access-date=May 17, 2024 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |date=September 18, 2014}}</ref> | ||
Selig also notably failed to resolve a 6-year conflict between the [[San Francisco Giants]] and the [[Oakland Athletics]] regarding the Athletics' proposed move to [[San Jose, California|San Jose]].<ref>{{cite news | author=sfgate.com | url=http://www.sfgate.com/athletics/jenkins/article/Oakland-situation-leaves-a-hole-in-Selig-s-legacy-5699653.php |title= Oakland situation leaves a hole in Selig's legacy | newspaper=Sfgate | date=August 20, 2014 | access-date= August 21, 2014}}</ref> Selig established a blue-ribbon panel in 2009 to resolve the dispute;<ref>{{cite web|author=espn |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/37163/time-for-mlb-to-let-the-as-move | title=Time for MLB to let the A's move |date=June 19, 2013 | access-date= August 21, 2014 }}</ref> however, despite years to find a resolution, the blue-ribbon panel completely failed to make any progress toward resolving the issue, leading San Jose to sue MLB. The lawsuit | Selig also notably failed to resolve a 6-year conflict between the [[San Francisco Giants]] and the [[Oakland Athletics]] regarding the Athletics' proposed move to [[San Jose, California|San Jose]].<ref>{{cite news | author=sfgate.com | url=http://www.sfgate.com/athletics/jenkins/article/Oakland-situation-leaves-a-hole-in-Selig-s-legacy-5699653.php |title= Oakland situation leaves a hole in Selig's legacy | newspaper=Sfgate | date=August 20, 2014 | access-date= August 21, 2014}}</ref> Selig established a blue-ribbon panel in 2009 to resolve the dispute;<ref>{{cite web|author=espn |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/37163/time-for-mlb-to-let-the-as-move | title=Time for MLB to let the A's move |date=June 19, 2013 | access-date= August 21, 2014 }}</ref> however, despite years to find a resolution, the blue-ribbon panel completely failed to make any progress toward resolving the issue, leading San Jose to sue MLB. The lawsuit questioned the league's anti-trust exemption and its ability to enforce particular clubs' geographic territories.<ref>{{cite web|author=cbs|url=http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/08/12/san-jose-gets-day-in-court-with-mlb-over-antitrust-claim-in-planned-as-move-athletics-sj-ballpark-anti-trust-court-federal-9th-circut-court-of-appeals/ | title = San Jose gets day in court with MLB over antitrust claim in planned A's move |date=August 12, 2014 | access-date= August 21, 2014 }}</ref> San Jose's bid for the Athletics ended in 2015 when the [[Supreme Court of the United States|United States Supreme Court]] declined to hear the case.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/supreme-court-rejects-san-jose-lawsuit-vs-mlb/c-153424084|title=Supreme Court rejects San Jose suit vs. MLB|first=Jane|last=Lee|website=[[MLB.com]]|date=October 6, 2015|accessdate=August 20, 2025}}</ref> In addition, Selig blocked the sale of the Athletics in 1999 to an ownership group led by Bob Piccinini, then the CEO of [[Save Mart Supermarkets]],<ref>{{cite web|author=Ross Newhan|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-sep-19-sp-12111-story.html | title=Sale of A's Seems to Be Facing a Giant Roadblock |work=Los Angeles Times|date=September 19, 1999}}</ref> and [[Joe Lacob]], who would later purchase [[Golden State Warriors]], from purchasing the Athletics in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jon Becker|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/07/25/killing-lacobs-deal-to-buy-as-just-one-of-seligs-costly-decisions-for-as/ |work=San Jose Mercury| title=Killing Lacob's deal to buy A's just one of Selig's costly decisions for Oakland |date=July 25, 2022 | access-date= July 25, 2022}}</ref> Both potential ownership groups were committed to keeping the team in Oakland that would render this territorial dispute meaningless. Instead, Selig permitted only [[Lew Wolff]], his fraternity brother from college, and [[John J. Fisher]] to buy the team. The latter has since initiated the process to move the [[Oakland Athletics relocation to Las Vegas|Athletics from Oakland to Las Vegas]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/athletics/as-begin-relocation-application-process-with-mlb-2797859|title=A's begin relocation application process with MLB|last=Akers|first=Mick|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=June 21, 2023}}</ref> | ||
=== Term of service === | === Term of service === | ||
On December 1, 2006, Selig announced that he would be retiring as commissioner of baseball upon the expiration of his contract in 2009. Selig earned $14.5 million from MLB over the timespan October 31, 2005 to October 31, 2006.<ref>{{cite web | agency = The Canadian Press | title = MLB: Selig made $14.5 million last year | publisher = The Sports Network (TSN) | date = April 3, 2007 | url = https://www.tsn.ca/mlb/news_story/?ID=202619&hubname= | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080122184319/http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/news_story/?ID=202619&hubname= | archive-date = January 22, 2008 | access-date = September 12, 2007 }}</ref> However, in January 2008, Selig agreed to a three-year contract extension, announcing he planned to retire after the 2012 season.<ref name="USAToday-extension2012">{{cite web| last = Nightengale| first = Bob| title = MLB gives Selig contract extension through 2012 | On December 1, 2006, Selig announced that he would be retiring as commissioner of baseball upon the expiration of his contract in 2009. Selig earned $14.5 million from MLB over the timespan October 31, 2005 to October 31, 2006.<ref>{{cite web | agency = The Canadian Press | title = MLB: Selig made $14.5 million last year | publisher = The Sports Network (TSN) | date = April 3, 2007 | url = https://www.tsn.ca/mlb/news_story/?ID=202619&hubname= | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080122184319/http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/news_story/?ID=202619&hubname= | archive-date = January 22, 2008 | access-date = September 12, 2007 }}</ref> However, in January 2008, Selig agreed to a three-year contract extension, announcing he planned to retire after the 2012 season.<ref name="USAToday-extension2012">{{cite web |last=Nightengale |first=Bob |author-link=Bob Nightengale |date=January 18, 2008 |title=MLB gives Selig contract extension through 2012 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2008-01-17-selig-extension_N.htm |access-date=November 16, 2011 |work=USA Today}}</ref> He further decided against retirement, and after a two-year extension for the previous deal was agreed to on January 12, 2012, it was announced that Selig would remain commissioner until the end of the 2014 season.<ref name="Bloom"/> | ||
===Post-Commissioner Activities=== | ===Post-Commissioner Activities=== | ||