Bowie Kuhn
From BR Bullpen
Bowie Kent Kuhn
- Born October 28, 1926 in Takoma Park, MD USA
- Died March 15, 2007 in Jacksonville, FL USA
Inducted into Hall of Fame in 2008
[edit] Biographical Information
Bowie Kuhn was the Commissioner of Major League Baseball for three terms from 1969 to 1984. A lawyer by trade, Kuhn oversaw the introduction of free agency, the addition of six clubs, and World Series games played at night.
He oversaw the game during a time of great labor conflict, including strikes in 1972, 1976 and 1981. He also intervened a number of times in the affairs of teams, most famously in 1976 by preventing Oakland Athletics owner Charles Finley from selling off three of his star players (Rollie Fingers, Joe Rudi and Vida Blue) who were threatening to leave as free agents at the end of the season; he then voided Finley's trade of Blue to the Cincinnati Reds because the amount of money involved was too large, whereas the Reds were only giving up untested minor leaguer Dave Revering for the All-Star pitcher. He mediated the owners' decision to play a split season in 1981.
In a highly controversial move in 1983, Kuhn banned Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle from associating with Major League Baseball because they were employed by casinos in the late 1970s. The ban was lifted in 1985 by his successor, Peter Ueberroth.
In 1999, The Sporting News named Kuhn the 60th most powerful person in sports in the 20th century.
He was voted into the Hall of Fame in 2007.
