Bowie Kuhn is given a seven-year contract to serve as commissioner.

Bowie Kuhn is given a seven-year contract to serve as commissioner.

On August 13, 1969, After serving as the interim replacement for William Eckert, Bowie Kuhn is unanimously elected to a seven-year term by the major league owners to be baseball’s fifth commissioner. Prior to his selection to his new post, the 42 year-old lawyer, who once worked as the scoreboard boy for a dollar a…

MLB lowered mound and tightened strike zone and tries an experimental ball 

MLB lowered mound and tightened strike zone and tries an experimental ball 

1969 – In addition to this year’s lower mound and tightened strike zone, Major League Baseball tries an experimental ball with 10% more resiliency for a spring training game between the Mets and Tigers in Lakeland, Florida. It has an all-rubber center instead of a cork and rubber core, and the seams are higher than the regular ball. Mets pitcher Don Cardwell surrenders three home runs in the 4th inning to Dick McAuliffe, Norm Cash, and Gates Brown in the Tigers’ 7 – 4 victory. Tomorrow, in Phoenix, Arizona, the same ball is used in the Giants’ 13 – 1 win over the Angels, with Bobby Bonds hitting the only two homers off George Brunet. The players agree the ball is definitely livelier and sounds louder coming off the bat.

Bowie Kuhn is named commissioner of Baseball
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Bowie Kuhn is named commissioner of Baseball

On February 4, 1969, 42-year-old Bowie Kuhn is named commissioner, succeeding Spike Eckert. Kuhn receives a one-year contract paying him $100,000. Major league owners turned to Kuhn after failing to agree on either of two other candidates, Mike Burke of the New York Yankees and Charles Feeney of the San Francisco Giants. The early favorite,…

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Commissioner William “Spike” Eckert resigns under pressure from the major league owners

On December 6, 1968, Commissioner William “Spike” Eckert, sometimes referred to as the ‘Unknown Solider’, resigns under pressure from the major league owners. National League attorney Bowie Kuhn is appointed commissioner on an interim basis. Eckert, the former U.S. Air Force lieutenant general, who served as the game’s fourth commissioner from 1965-68.

Commissioner Spike Eckert voids the contract recently signed by collegiate star Tom Seaver
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Commissioner Spike Eckert voids the contract recently signed by collegiate star Tom Seaver

    On March 2, 1966,  Commissioner William Eckert voids the contract recently signed by collegiate star Tom Seaver. The Atlanta Braves had signed Seaver to a $50,000 bonus a week earlier, but Eckert cites a rule prohibiting teams from signing players while their college seasons are ongoing. A special draft will be held after…

Retired Air Force Lieutenant General William Eckert becomes the fourth Commissioner of Major League Baseball

Retired Air Force Lieutenant General William Eckert becomes the fourth Commissioner of Major League Baseball

By a unanimous vote of the owners, retired Air Force Lieutenant General William Eckert becomes the fourth Commissioner of Major League Baseball, succeeding the retiring Ford Frick, who served 14 years in the position. The game’s unfamiliar new leader, who hasn’t attended a game in a decade, will quickly be dubbed in the press as “the Unknown Soldier.”

Commissioner Ford Frick suspends U.S.-Japan baseball relations until the Yomiuri Giants-San Francisco Giants dispute over Masanori Murakami’s contract is resolved.

Commissioner Ford Frick suspends U.S.-Japan baseball relations until the Yomiuri Giants-San Francisco Giants dispute over Masanori Murakami’s contract is resolved.

1965 – Commissioner Ford Frick suspends U.S.-Japan baseball relations until the Yomiuri Giants-San Francisco Giants dispute over Masanori Murakami’s contract is resolved.

Ford Frick protects Babe Ruth’s homerun record
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Ford Frick protects Babe Ruth’s homerun record

On July 18, 1961, Commissioner Ford Frick makes a controversial ruling in announcing that Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record cannot be considered broken unless it is accomplished in 154 or fewer games. Frick’s decision will result in two separate records: one for a 154-game season and one for a 162-game season. Pinterest Instagram Facebook…

Ford Frick announces that players and coaches, rather than the fans, will vote on selections for the All-Star Game
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Ford Frick announces that players and coaches, rather than the fans, will vote on selections for the All-Star Game

1958 – Commissioner Ford Frick announces that players and coaches, rather than the fans, will vote on selections for the All-Star Game. The vote will not return to the fans until 1970, when Commissioner Bowie Kuhn reverses Frick’s action. The decision is a reaction to alleged ballot box stuffing by Cincinnati fans before last year’s All-Star Game.