Baseball commissioner Selig gets down to business in Arizona, By: Chris Casacchia
The Business Journal of Phoenix
May 7, 2007
Despite the vast changes implemented by Bud Selig during his 16-year reign as Major League Baseball commissioner, he may be remembered most as enabling a steroid problem to run rampant under his watch.
As Barry Bonds inches closer to a sports record of records -- surpassing Hank Aaron's 755 home runs -- former Senate Majority Leader and longtime Selig friend George Mitchell soon will begin interviewing players as part of his investigation into steroids in baseball.
"We have no secrets," Selig said to a crowded room of businessmen May 4 at the Phoenician.
Selig was the keynote speaker at the Diamondbacks inaugural B2B Summit for sponsors and potential clients.
When asked if he would be remembered for his successful initiatives or the steroid scandal, he said "I'm going to let historians do that."
Since Selig took over baseball's top job in 1992, he has introduced interleague play, revenue sharing, expansion, a wild card system, realignment, and an All-Star game that dictates home field in the World Series. He also was instrumental in launching the World Baseball Classic in 2006, and solidifying a new bargaining agreement and stricter drug policies in the league.
But with achievement, controversy has swirled around Selig and the MLB, from tell-all books about steroid use to the recent traffic fatality of St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Josh Hancock, who was drinking at the team clubhouse prior to the accident.
Selig asked each team to review its alcohol policies, but said that's a "club issue" not a league matter. The Cardinals since have banned alcohol in its clubhouse.
Despite the tumult, Selig during his 50 minute speech referred to the current times as "the golden era of baseball." He noted the game's unparalleled popularity, parity as seven clubs have taken home the World Series trophy in as many years, and the 22 new parks that have been built during his tenure.
Baseball's economy also is enjoying record success, bringing in $5.2 billion in revenue last year, as 76 millions fans attended games. The changes instituted by Selig boosted the sports appeal, but it was the 1998 home run race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa that brought fans back to parks.
McGwire and Sosa, along with Rafael Palmeiro, Curt Schilling and Selig, were the prime speakers during 2004 Congressional hearings on steroids and baseball. During that hearing, McGuire continually took the Fifth Amendment when asked about personal steroid use, while Palmeiro emphatically denied any wrongdoing. Shortly after, Palmeiro tested positive for steroids.
"When you have a steroid problem, it's a manifestation of society," Selig said. "We're doing everything we can to solve the problem."
