Marvin Miller should not be on MLB Hall of Fame ballot

Marvin Miller’s impact on baseball rivals that of Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson, but to honor his wishes he should not be on the Modern MLB Hall of Fame era ballot.

The Baseball Hall of Fame recently announced the candidates on the 10-person ballot for the Modern MLB Hall of Fame era. Many are well-known players from the 1970s and 1980s. Fans will remember Don Mattingly and his mustache, Steve Garvey and his perfect hair, Dave Parker, and his intimidating beard, and the clean-shaven wholesomeness of Dale Murphy.

One name that may not be as familiar to fans is Marvin Miller, who was the executive director of the MLB Players Association from 1966 to 1982. Before Miller came along, the MLBPA had existed for about a dozen years but had no full-time staff or office. Players did not pay dues. Instead, the MLBPA received funds from the annual All-Star game, which didn’t amount to much. The union might as well have not even existed for all the good they did.

This was a different time, a time when all the power was on the side of the owners and the players could do nothing about it. Every player was forced to stay with his team by the “reserve clause” that “reserved” the team’s right to retain that player for the next season. There was no free agency and players could be traded without their consent. Contract negotiations were between the team and the player alone, with no agents or lawyers allowed.

It’s easy to romanticize a mythical time in baseball when players stayed with their original teams for their entire careers. Some fans likely still think that’s the way it should be. A handful of great players are well-known for having played two decades or more for just one team, like Willie Stargell, Tony Gwynn, and Cal Ripken, Jr.