Rob Manfred was chosen to be the new Major League Baseball commissioner by the league’s owners on Thursday, the Associated Press reports. Manfred, who has been working in baseball since 1988, will replace Bud Selig at the helm of an organization that catches $8 billion in revenue annually.
Manfred, 55, is the 10th man to step into the most powerful position in baseball. He beat out Boston Red Sox owner Tom Werner and the MLB’s executive vice president of business, Tim Brosnan, for the spot. He was Selig’s pick for successor—Selig, 80, promoted him last September to chief operating officer—but only got the job after several contentious hours of debate and voting among the league owners in Baltimore.
Manfred served as executive vice president of the MLB for 15 years. During his time heading up labor relations, there were no lockouts. He also oversaw the league’s crackdown on performance-enhancing drugs.
[AP]
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