Why Bud Selig Has been terrible for Major League Baseball

Bud Selig became commissioner of Major League Baseball and since he has been in office the grand history of America's past time has tainted by corruption and greed.

In Selig's defense the game has made more money in his time as commissioner and more fans attend games, however, the means by which Selig accomplished these feats are dubious in nature. He is also popular among the owners of the league. Selig also added the wild card playoff round, which in my opinion makes the postseason and regular season more exciting. According to wikipedia, "Jerome Holtzman, Major League Baseball's official historian from 1999 until his passing in 2008, believed that Selig was the best commissioner in baseball history."

However, I disagree with Holztman. One reason Holtzman believes this is that his paychecks as the official historian were signed by Selig. I would say that my boss was the best ever in his position too, if that person was still signing my paychecks.

The first problem that arose during Selig's ongoing tenure as commissioner was the strike of 1994 that prevented the playing of the fall classic. This was the first time in 90 years that the world series was not played. While it may have been unavoidable Selig was unable to prevent the strike and was unable to end it in a time that allowed for post season play.

This era in baseball history will always be known as the steroid era. The best home run hitters in the past 20 years have all been linked to steroids. Many (including myself) believe Selig endorsed this steroid use, until players began being caught using these banned substances.

In an effort to remove steroids from baseball Selig sent George Mitchell to investigate the use of steroids. Mitchell gave his now famous Mitchell report on December 13th, 2007. It named numerous players including sure fire hall of famer Roger Clemens. However, the thing that is commonly overlooked with the Mitchell Report is that Mitchell is a part owner of the Boston Red Sox and has a stake in the team's success. Suspiciously no current Red Sox players were named in the report.

Selig also allowed the all star game to end in a tie one year. allowing the game to end in a tie was a giant middle finger to the fans that had watched the entire spectacle. Now because of that he attached meaning to a meaningless exhibition game by ruling that the league that wins the all star game has home field advantage for the world series. Now teams that have no chance to reach the world series have at least one player in a game to decide home field advantage. This system is flawed.


Selig has lost a world series, allowed an inconclusive all-star game and presided over the corrupt steroid era in baseball. Not only did he preside over this corruption, nut he made himself even richer off of it, making $14.5 million a year in his position. Like Congressman Cliff Stearns I am calling for Bud Selig to step down as commissioner before the reputation of the game is tarnished any further.