Baseball mourns passing of Marvin Miller
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Nov 27, 2012 
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Marvin Miller, the founding Executive Director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, passed away at his home this morning. He was 95. From the MLBPA:
Marvin served as Executive Director from 1966-82. During his tenure, and through the collective bargaining process, Marvin led players to unprecedented levels of improved pension and health benefits and compensation, while also providing players a greater voice in the rules and regulations of the game. It is often said that Marvin helped form and create one of the strongest unions in American labor history.
Miller is a giant in the history of this game. Here’s what others have said about him today.
“It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Marvin Miller. All players – past, present and future – owe a debt of gratitude to Marvin, and his influence transcends baseball. Marvin, without question, is largely responsible for ushering in the modern era of sports, which has resulted in tremendous benefits to players, owners and fans of all sports. It was an honor and a privilege to have known Marvin. The industry has never witnessed a more honorable man, and his passion for helping others and his principled resolve serve as the foundation of the MLBPA to this day. On behalf of all Major Leaguers and MLBPA staff, I extend my heartfelt sympathies to Marvin’s daughter, Susan, son, Peter, their families and Marvin’s many friends and admirers. Marvin was a champion among champions, and his legacy will live on forever.”
– current MLBPA Executive Director Michael Weiner
“Marvin possessed a combination of integrity, intelligence, eloquence, courage and grace that is simply unmatched in my experience. Without question, Marvin had more positive influence on Major League Baseball than any other person in the last half of the 20th century. It was a rare privilege for me to be able to work for him and with him. All of us who knew him will miss him enormously.”
– former MLBPA Executive Director Don Fehr
“Marvin Miller was a highly accomplished executive and a very influential figure in baseball history. He made a distinct impact on this sport, which is reflected in the state of the game today, and surely the Major League players of the last half-century have greatly benefited from his contributions. On behalf of Major League Baseball and the 30 Clubs, I extend my deepest condolences to Marvin’s family, friends and colleagues.”
– MLB commissioner Bud Selig
Associated Press photo of Miller and Joe Torre in 1972
Cashmoney November 27th, 2012 at 12:14 pm
AoA, i think they are not that stupid…hal’ and collective brass is looking at the single A crew.
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Even if it is the single A crew it’s still way too optimistic. I would like the kids to become apart of the team w/o being labeled saviors. It would be 2008 all over again. I didn’t mind that season because we say the big 3 in the rotation but it was difficult listening to ppl whine about it.
R.I.P. Marvin Miller
Gotta believe there is NO way Miller woulda rubber stamped the current CBA.
RIP …
He should have been in the hall of fame a long time ago. They will almost assuredly put him in now that he’s dead. What a shame..
Personally, I believe Pettitte is worth the $$$ Kuroda got, especially considering the Yanks current SP situation. Andy musta given the Yanks a hometown discount. He’s been around long enough to know how the cow eats the cabbage.
no problem in giving AP the money, those dollars are too alluring to stay home. I almost see A.P. as 2012 version El Duque. He is fragile but he is good. you sure want him on a PS mound.
Donny
I hope Pettitte earns every single penny of this contract in 2013.
I have to keep my expectations low when it comes to Andy. Not sure if he can repeat
his performance in 2012. That is a lot to ask, but maybe the time off with the busted ankle
gave his arm time to rest up and get strong.
Mo should take a pay cut, but he won’t. he knows two things, yanks have the money and he has em by the proverbial…
@Joelsherman1: Some reports around #Yankees have deal with Ichiro at 1-yr $5M. Been told by multiple sources not true, that no serious talks even ongoing
on a lighter note… look at torre picture… Joe is styling. somewhere between the Wolverine, Shaft,Starsky and Hutch lies Joe’s sartorial splendor in the year of our lord 1972.
R.I.P. Marvin Miller
@jcrasnick: The Ozzie Smith memorabilia auction ends Saturday. Current high bid for his 13 Gold Gloves: $113,932. http://t.co/uSiWSCBG
How much for his noodle bat?
@KenDavidoff: Expect the formal announcement of Andy Pettitte’s return to the #Yankees in the next day or two.
Joel Sherman of The New York Post reports (on Twitter) the Yankees are not having serious talks with Ichiro Suzuki at this time.
Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/#4ofdYpJil5O7x8yx.99
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There is hope for you blake!
I remember Mr. Miller would come and talk at every spring training camp at both the big league campp as well as the minor league camp……He helped change the landscape of pro sports
“There is hope for you blake!”
Nah I kinda want Ichiro back….but as part of a good platoon and a better LFer
RIP.
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blake November 27th, 2012 at 9:58 am
You know at the end of Finding Nemo where all the fish finally get to the ocean but are stuck in plastic bags floating around …..and they are like “now what”?
That’s gonna be Hal, Cashman, and company after they finally get under that 189 mark and they look at their roster next winter
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blake great post
Miller had stones, which angered the owners to No end. The current pay scale enjoyed by MLB’ers is courtesy of Miller. Any of you that have ever belonged to a Union, know how important it is to have the Head Honcho in the trenches with you during a Strike. Miller was that guy.
torre should grow back those sideburns for the wbc….
Don’t think #Yankees are done after Pettitte/Rivera. Obligations for ’14 are $68.1MM, per Cot’s. Lot of room under that $189MM limit.
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So A-Rod, CC and Tex?
so we’re getting the old band back together again, huh? martin should sign tomorrow then they can start working hard to bring swisher back…
This is gonna be GREAT!!!
I hate writers that keep misusing the 2014 cbt numbers
Problem with that $68M number is it takes into account actual salary for that year and not the AAV. AAV of Tex, CC and Alex are 27.5+24+23, instead of $68M, basically another decent salary.
so we’re getting the old band back together again, huh? martin should sign tomorrow then they can start working hard to bring swisher back…
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Martin isnt coming back if he is asking what they say he is asking.
“Problem with that $68M number is it takes into account actual salary for that year and not the AAV. AAV of Tex, CC and Alex are 27.5+24+23, instead of $68M, basically another decent salary.”
Also doesn’t include Jeters 15 million plus that the number is actually closer to 179 in actual payroll to avoid the tax…..
@ESPN_MLB: Martin and Yankees far apart http://t.co/VZzWMMqa
Good
Jerkface November 27th, 2012 at 1:44 pm
I hate writers that keep misusing the 2014 cbt numbers
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It’s the fans that bother me especially some of them over at RAB.
“so we’re getting the old band back together again, huh? martin should sign tomorrow then they can start working hard to bring swisher back…”
I think the word ” old ” should be capilitized on this statement
If Martin can get 4 years, good for him. I’d rather piece it together with Romine/Cervelli and maybe Molina or Shoppach.
the obvious way to get under the lt thershold in 2014 is to not sign cano and jeter and force mo and andy to retire. after cc, tex and arod theres no room in the budget for anyone making $10M.
lets see just how badly hal wants to get under the cap.
If Martin can get 4 years, good for him. I’d rather piece it together with Romine/Cervelli and maybe Molina or Shoppach.
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Anything to avoid trading Gary Sanchez……
Ys, they will pay Jeter. I think deep down they are hoping Cano leaves for a ridiculous payday so they can save face and free up the money….. Safe to say Granderson won’t be here in 2014…
blake November 27th, 2012 at 1:49 pm
@ESPN_MLB: Martin and Yankees far apart http://t.co/VZzWMMqa
Good
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Best news I’ve heard all day. Let them stay far apart.
Between Romy, Cervy, Stewie, and Whitey we should be able to find 2 guys that can go North at the end of March and contribute just fine throughout the year.
If Alex and Tex can bounce back and have good offensive numbers that would help as well. However, I think the signing of Martin would be more because of his defense then his offense anyways.
Don’t waste money on Martin.
Once the Winter Meetings get underway, we will know if Cano is being floated. Pretty tough to keep a big name like that under wraps, with the Winter Meetings going full tilt. We also should get a pretty good read on the availability\price concerning J. Upton, and Headley.
Against All Odds November 27th, 2012 at 1:49 pm
Jerkface November 27th, 2012 at 1:44 pm
I hate writers that keep misusing the 2014 cbt numbers
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It’s the fans that bother me especially some of them over at RAB.
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I can’t get mad at fans for not understanding the CBA.. the only reason I understand any of it is because JF and LGY translate it into dummy-talk for me. It’s just crazy that writers.. people paid to be professionals and do this type of research.. don’t.
If Granderson will not be here next year, and I agree he will not, why in the world wouldn’t they trade him for a package or player better than the supplemental pick(assuming 2014 wouldn’t stop them from tendering him)?
To make Blake happy, Jim Bowden suggested trading him to the Nats for Rendon plus.
I actually wouldn’t mind Cervelli if he could play D a little better. .270 avg and .340 obp is alright.
i’m not sure they are 100% going to stay under that cap in 2014. i think the current plan is to just not do anything that would make it impossible to get under it and hope that they can.
i dont think they will actually have the cajones to make it happen if it means not competing or forcing jeter and mo out. they could just delay for another season or two then get under and reap the rewards after that. but barring arod finding the fountain of bonds, its not going to happen without seriously threatening their ability to contend for a championship.
of course they might counter that getting under the cap as soon as possible lowers the cost of adding players beyond that ‘under the cap’ season which might mean that the short term gain is worth the long term gain.
Including guys like Sherman.
austin, because they still need a cf who can help them win a championship this year. and they obviously think granderson does that. its not like the mets with wright where bringing him back in a walk year makes no sense because they don’t have a prayer of competing for the PS.
UnKnown November 27th, 2012 at 2:04 pm
Between Romy, Cervy, Stewie, and Whitey we should be able to find 2 guys that can go North at the end of March and contribute just fine throughout the year.
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Exactly.
Remember, they don’t need to be good, they just need to be as bad as Martin but more cheaply!
@mikeaxisa: Curious to see how much Madson gets. It’ll set the market for Soria, though Soria is younger and has more time as a closer. Saves pay.
austinmac November 27th, 2012 at 2:08 pm
If Granderson will not be here next year, and I agree he will not, why in the world wouldn’t they trade him for a package or player better than the supplemental pick(assuming 2014 wouldn’t stop them from tendering him)?
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They missed an opportunity last off season to move either Grandy or Swisher knowing they weren’t going to keep both anyway.. but like YS said, I guess they feel like this keeps them competitive. I don’t particularly like the strategy… but I suppose I understand it (even if it is somewhat counter productive to their goals).
Martin is one of the 15-20 best catchers in baseball….the problem is though that after a handful of studs (Posey,Mauer, Wieters) …..the catching position really falls off and there isn’t a ton of difference between the rest of the starters and the back ups……Martin is in that group that is better than the back ups…. But not enough better to give him 10 times the money of a back up when you are a budget
@BloggingBombers: Great job by the A’s players, who voted a full playoff share to charity. $34,325.16 will be split up between eight different organizations.
Yanks should follow suit….donate 10K for each ALCS strike out
For some reason ‘Springtime for Hitler’ is playing in my head.. I blame Russell Martin.
blake November 27th, 2012 at 2:31 pm
@BloggingBombers: Great job by the A’s players, who voted a full playoff share to charity. $34,325.16 will be split up between eight different organizations.
Yanks should follow suit….donate 10K for each ALCS strike out
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They would have to dip into their personal savings.
The A’s donate to charity and Melky gets a full share. If he had any sense after signing that lucrative contract w/the Jays, he’d donate his playoff share to a drug abuse awareness group …
YS,
I would use the Granderson money saved elsewhere, but they have to think long term. The fan base can understand the team needs to get younger.
This team, as it seems to be forming, is questionably competitive in my eyes.
WOW!!! Cervelli catching & Gardner in LF…nice start of a team looking for offense
@mlbtraderumors: Mets To Non-Tender Pelfrey, Acosta, Torres http://t.co/qGQbVjdO #mlb
Cashman’a Heart rate just rose
They should pick up Pelfrey for 1 year + option for 2014
November 27, 2012 at 2:45 pm
They should pick up Pelfrey for 1 year + option for 2014
I agree….standard pitching depth dumpster dive
nice start of a team looking for offense
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Gardner definitely provides offense, and defense, so he is good. Cervelli is sub-optimal and probably won’t be the starter. The starter may be worse offensively than cervelli!
Shame,
Is the next line “winter for Poland and Yankee fans”?
Gardner definitely provides offense…..you have to be kidding me …Right?
Cervelli hits fine, you just can’t throw out only 14% two years in a row and be pissing off CC.
When Gardner is healthy he gets on base and steals bases…..he’s a useful player and is fairly cheap….they should put him in CF, trade Granderson and get a bopper for LF
Sign Hamilton and trade Granderson to the braves for Nick Amhmed and a pitcher
Gardner is basically Bourn, and Bourn is about to get over 60 mil.
austinmac November 27th, 2012 at 2:47 pm
Shame,
Is the next line “winter for Poland and Yankee fans”?
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It is now!!!
Yesterday I wrote up what I thought the Yankee Star Wars cast would look like. Should we do a WWII version? Levine is definitely Mussolini. He looks so much like him….
When comparing catchers offensive numbers, it’s really not fair to compare part-timers like Mauer and Napoli to any full-time catcher specifically Martin. The full-timers get the hell beat out of ‘em back there.
@Buster_ESPN
Friends of Cody Ross believe BOS is in the lead in his neg. on 3-year deal. But sources say there haven’t been new talks in last few days.
?@AdamRubinESPN
David Wright really doesn’t need no-trade clause. He’ll have 10 years of MLB service by mid-2014 and can’t be traded without consent after.
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This is true? This is a part of the new CBA, correct?
Gardner’s strong suit is his D in LF. I’m not sure how that would translate out in CF. Whatever offense he generates is gravy.
On another movie-related note.. Am I the only one wishing ‘Killing Them Softly’ was a Fugees biopic?
Gardner definitely provides offense…..you have to be kidding me …Right?
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Above average on base percentage and 45 steals isn’t offense? You have an irrational dislike for Gardner, I know, but he has very useful offensive game that is apparently worth a lot on the free agent market.
This is true? This is a part of the new CBA, correct?
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Nah, 10/5 rights have been a thing forever. If you have 10 years of service + 5 years of service with your current team you cannot be traded without consent.
Soriano would make a great Wycleff.
@Buster_ESPN: Friends of Cody Ross believe BOS is in the lead in his neg. on 3-year deal. But sources say there haven’t been new talks in last few days.
@Ken_Rosenthal: Told #Mets’ offer of extension to Wright yesterday was 6 yrs./$100M. Source today says team offering 7 yrs. between $125M and $150M.
@JonHeymanCBS
#marlins beinfest admits they have work to do. word is, none of it involves trading @Giancarlo818 http://cbsprt.co/TsnCdD
Jerkface November 27th, 2012 at 3:01 pm
This is true? This is a part of the new CBA, correct?
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Nah, 10/5 rights have been a thing forever. If you have 10 years of service + 5 years of service with your current team you cannot be traded without consent.
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Thank ya! Did not know that..
lol if now teams will even lock up their 30 year olds
The marlins need to keep Giancarlo to draw those 12 fans they have left to the ballpark
Jerkface says:
November 27, 2012 at 3:09 pm
lol if now teams will even lock up their 30 year olds
No evidence that position players are harder to find in free agency and via trade
Gardner and Bourn are close to the same player when healthy….and Bourn is gonna get paid a lot
Yea, an above average on base percentage + speed on the bases + elite defense is incredibly valuable. Doesn’t mean I’d pay for Gardner in free agency, but I wouldn’t throw him away or call him a minor league player.