Statement of former MLBPA Executive Director Donald Fehr regarding HOF vote
In the first half of the 20th Century, no single person was more important to Baseball than was Jackie Robinson. In the second half of the 20th Century, that recognition unquestionably belongs to Marvin Miller.
I had the honor and privilege to work with and for Marvin for the last 6 ½ years of his tenure as the MLBPA’s Executive Director, and I know from personal experience the impact he had. I learned from him, and followed his example. The strength and integrity of the MLBPA in the 31 years since Marvin’s retirement can be traced directly to his legacy. All he wanted was to make certain that players were fairly treated. That was his job and his goal, and generations of players — past, present and future – do and will thank him for the fact that they were and are. His positive impact on Baseball simply can’t be overestimated.
Marvin should have been elected to the Hall many years ago. It is a sad and sorry state of affairs that he has not been, and continues to reflect poorly on the very organization that has as its purpose recognizing and celebrating Baseball’s best.
Donald M. Fehr
MLBPA Executive Director 1983-2009
Greg Bouris
Director of Communications
Major League Baseball Players Association
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Don Fehr has always been an odd duck in regard to how he deals with the truth. He knows about as well as anyone that Marvin Miller made it clear he did not want to be in the Hall of Fame, and that he made it equally to his proxies to refuse such an honor if it were ever bestowed upon him. While I do not believe that should stop people from voting for him, it obviously does, and Bill James has publicly pushed the thought that folks should not vote for Miller because of his desire not to be in the HOF.