Donald Fehr is set to step down after a tumultuous quarter-century as the head of the Major League Baseball’s players union.
The 60-year-old Fehr has watched over what is being called American baseball’s “steroid era.” He fought steroid testing and it wasn’t until 2002 that the players’ union agreed to mandatory drug testing.
“It has been a high privilege to be entrusted with the leadership of this extraordinary union for the last 25 years, and I am enormously proud of what the players have accomplished during that time,” Fehr said. “But now, about two years before the next round of collective bargaining, is the right time for me to relinquish my position and for the players to name new leadership. Accordingly, I have informed members of the executive board that I will resign effective not later than next March 31.”
Major League Baseball Players Association lawyer Michael Weiner is expected to replace Fehr, although nothing is official as the move has to be approved by the executive board.
“Michael is clearly the most qualified person to become the next executive director, and carry on the work of the Players Association in the years to come,” Fehr said.
Fehr will not leave his post until early next year because of a clause in his contract that stipulates he must give nine months notice before leaving.
He also orchestrated a number of strikes, including one that canceled the 1994 World Series playoffs.
Fehr was named executive director of the MLBPA in 1985 and five years later he won a US$280 million settlement for the players against the owners, who had been colluding to hinder the players ability to move from team to team as free agents.
Under his watch, the players’ salaries rose from US$289,000 to an average of US$2.9 million.
MLB commissioner Bud Selig, who has also faced criticism for the way he handled the “steroid era,” lauded Fehr as a proponent of the game.
“For more than 25 years, Don has represented his constituency with passion, loyalty and great diligence,” Selig said. “Although we have had our differences, I have always respected his role.”
Say what you like about Fehr and his failure to control rampant steroid use, the players spoke highly of him.
“He’d talk like a lawyer, but in the same sense, he would also slow it down and explain it for us,” Colorado’s Todd Helton said.
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