Bowie Kuhn: RIP

Terry O'Keefe · Mar 16, 2007

The one thing I've always held against Bowie was he allowed the DH into baseball. He also presided over a period of 5 work stoppages that nearly killed baseball. But also of course incredible growth at the same time. He was also involved in Curt Floods landmark effort to overturn the reserve clause.

When Bowie Kuhn took over as commissioner on Feb. 4, 1969, baseball had just completed its final season as a tradition-bound 20-team sport with no playoffs, a reserve clause and an average salary of about $19,000. A look back on the highs and lows of Kuhn's career.
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Here's a timeline

Bowie Kuhn, who served as Major League Baseball's commissioner for 15 tumultuous years, died Thursday at age 80 after a brief illness. His career highlights -- and lowlights:

Bowie Kuhn

• 1969 -- Named commissioner before the season (position was vacant following firing of General Eckert in 1968); four new teams (Royals, Pilots, Expos and Padres) added; denies Curt Flood's request to overturn the reserve clause; elected by owners for a seven-year term as commissioner.

• 1970 -- Pilots move to Milwaukee and become the Brewers; suspends Denny McLain (three months) for his involvement in a bookkeeping operation; reprimands Jim Bouton in a private meeting for writing "Ball Four."

• 1971 -- Signs MLB to a $72 million TV contract with NBC; first World Series night game.

• 1972 -- Washington Senators move to Arlington, Texas, and become the Rangers; players strike during spring training.

• 1974 -- Orders Hank Aaron to start at least two of the three season-opening games in Cincinnati; suspends George Steinbrenner for two years for making illegal campaign contributions to Richard Nixon and others.

• 1975 -- Re-elected to a seven-year term

• 1976 -- Forces the owners to abandon the idea of a preseason lockout; voids the A's sales of Rollie Fingers, Vida Blue and Joe Rudi due to it not being in the "best interests of baseball."

• 1977 -- Arbitrator rules in favor of free agency, abolishing the reserve clause; two new teams (Mariners and Blue Jays) added; suspends Ted Turner for one year for tampering charges in the signing of OF Gary Matthews.

• 1979 -- Issues a notice saying that all reporters, regardless of sex, be treated equally in terms of locker room access; informs then part-time Mets coach Willie Mays that he must disassociate with baseball after accepting a position with the owner of several casinos (later reinstated by Peter Uerberroth).

• 1980 -- Stalls a players' strike; suspends Fergie Jenkins following his drug arrest in Toronto (later overturned by arbitrator).

• 1981 -- Players strike (50 days, 171 games)

• 1982 -- Owners vote not to renew his contract.

• 1983 -- Suspends Royals Willie Wilson, Willie Aikens and Jerry Martin and Dodger Steve Howe for one season for alleged use of illegal drugs (later shortened by arbitrator); suspends Mickey Mantle from baseball after he took the job as director of sports promotion for a hotel in Atlantic City (reinstated by Peter Ueberroth).

• 1984 -- Peter Ueberroth elected as new commissioner, to take over Oct. 1

• 2003 -- Receives 20 out of a possible 79 votes from the Veterans Committee for the Hall of Fame

Other notes:

• Attendance tripled from 1968-1980.

• Revenue grew more than $10 million in same era MLB expanded from 20 to 26 teams.

• Baseball offices were moved to a permanent location in New York City.

• He was MLB's youngest (44), tallest (6-foot-5) and heaviest (240 pounds) commissioner.
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Bowie Kuhn: RIP

Terry O'Keefe Well-Known Member Administrator

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Bowie Kuhn: RIP

Terry O'Keefe Well-Known Member Administrator

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