Bye Bye Bowie

Bowie Kuhn is dead.

In the 15 years he was commissioner we saw the expansion of the leagues (Expos, Royals, Brewers, Padres), introduction of the DH rule, free agency, the decision to play World Series games at night (to "attract new fans") and many, many other controversial changes to baseball. The man who blocked the sale of players from the A's to the Red Sox (which I have yet to forgive him for... how cool was Rollie Fingers?) and banned Willie Mays for being part of a casino promotion - even though he wasn't involved in gambling/bookmaking like others has passed on at the age of 80.

I wasn't a big fan of Bowie's. His attempts to make baseball more appealing the to the genral masses have resulted in changes that have forever altered baseball's landscape... and not necessarily in a good way... but the man did what he believed and, as the generations have grown with and adapted to his vision of attracting more fans, the frustration old timers like me still have between the baseball of my youth and the baseball of today is fading in a curmudgeonly haze.

May he rest in peace as he sits in the commissioner's box in the sky watching the real legends play on an eternal green field under a clear blue sky.