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Selig to retire in January 2015

Bud SeligOne more season: Bud Selig announced he would be stepping down as MLB Commissioner in January 2015, ending a run that begin with the interim tag in 1992.

Selig, who bought the Seattle Pilots out of bankruptcy in 1970 and moved them to Milwaukee to begin a career in baseball, oversaw a period of unprecedented growth for Major League Baseball. Oriole Park had opened when he became interim commissioner, but he pushed for new facilities: in the end, 20 teams opened new ballparks while he was commissioner. He oversaw the creation of MLB Advanced Media while also selling TV rights to multiple networks. He overhauled the meaning of the All-Star Game and instituted a revenue-sharing plan designed to help small-market compete.

From the official release:

It remains my great privilege to serve the game I have loved throughout my life. Baseball is the greatest game ever invented, and I look forward to continuing its extraordinary growth and addressing several significant issues during the remainder of my term.

I am grateful to the owners throughout Major League Baseball for their unwavering support and for allowing me to lead this great institution. I thank our players, who give me unlimited enthusiasm about the future of our game. Together we have taken this sport to new heights and have positioned our national pastime to thrive for generations to come. Most of all, I would like to thank our fans, who are the heart and soul of our game.

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