After spending more than two decades in the position, it was time for Bud Selig to retire as MLB Commissioner. His successor, Rob Manfred, was chosen on this day in 2014.
Love him or hate him, there is no denying the impact that Bud Selig had as the Commissioner of the MLB. He brought interleague play to the game, presided over two expansions, and made numerous changes to improve the quality of the sport we love. Yet, his legacy is mixed, as he also presided over the PED Era and the debacle that was the All Star Game tie.
In the end, his greatest contribution to the game may well be the current state of labor peace. He worked with the Player’s Union to make sure that disastrous strikes, like the one that occurred in 1994, would not happen again. That labor peace, and the current era of communication, may be his greatest legacy.
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It is not surprising that, as Selig was set to retire from his role, that the MLB would look for someone to continue that model. After several rounds of voting, and numerous candidates, that successor was found. Rob Manfred, who had served under Selig as MLB’s Chief Operating Officer, was named as his replacement on this day in 2014.
Manfred has certainly held his own thus far. While there may be issues, such as with instant replay, he has done a solid job of continuing Selig’s legacy within the game. However, his biggest test is coming up, as the current Collective Bargaining Agreement within the MLB expires on December 1st. Will that labor peace continue, or will we see an unfortunate return to the strife and distrust of years past?
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All Rob Mafred has been asked to do thus far is to refrain from damaging the progress Bud Selig made. Now, he is about to face his biggest test. Let us hope that the chosen successor can continue to be a positive force for the MLB.