Sports

Godfather of baseball free agency Miller dies at 95

Marvin Miller, the most influential labor leader in sports history who ushered free agency into baseball, has passed away today at the age of 95.

Miller had been diagnosed with liver cancer in August and he died at his Manhattan home at 5:30 a.m., according to daughter Susan Miller.

“All players — past, present and future — owe a debt of gratitude to Marvin, and his influence transcends baseball,” current union head Michael Weiner said.

“Marvin, without question, is largely responsible for ushering in the modern era of sports, which has resulted in tremendous benefits to players, owners and fans of all sports.”

Miller was the MLB Players Association chief from its inception in 1966 until 1983. He successfully challenged MLB’s “reserve clause” which had previously tied players to their original teams with virtually no bargaining power.

When the reserve clause was busted, it essentially opened baseball’s modern era of free agency.

In a prepared statement, the MLBPA hailed Miller for “transforming the association first into a bona fide labor union then gradually into one of the strongest collective bargaining units in the United States.”

“Marvin Miller was an incredible man,’ tweeted Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander, the son of a retired Communication Workers of America organizer.

“We are all grateful for his contributions — his legacy will live on for generations.”

.The labor economist came to baseball through the United Steelworkers of America, and he gradually nudged players into believing they had a right to bargain for salaries and their place of employment.

Even before busting the reserve clause, Miller is credited for boosting MLB’s player minimum wage from $6,000 to $10,000 in 1968. Miller also won players the right to arbitration to settle disputes, a tool he used to score the union’s greatest gains.

Miller’s grand slam came in 1975 when he convinced Baltimore pitcher Dave McNally and Dodgers hurler Andy Messersmith to play out their contracts and ask an arbitrator for freedom.

The ensuing ruling by arbitrator Peter Seitz set them free and ended the reserve clause.

“Without question, Marvin had more positive influence on Major League Baseball than any other person in the last half of the 20th century,” said current hockey players chief and former MLBPA head Donald Fehr.

“It was a rare privilege for me to be able to work for him and with him. All of us who knew him will miss him enormously.”

Now all players enjoy free agency after six years of MLB service time.

Miller agreed to the long waiting time, knowing players salaries would be driven up, if the number of available free agents on the market were kept to a relative minimum.

“He will be missed,” tweeted Cy Young Award-winning Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey. “A true pioneer. Thank you Marvin.”

The players’ hard-won rights often came at a terrible price to the game. Miller oversaw player strikes in 1972, 1979 and 1981, in addition to management lockouts in 1973 and 1976.

Miller was never inducted to baseball’s Hall of Fame, much to the chagrin of players and union supporters.

“Marvin Miller-legendary leader of MLB players. R.I.P. -Travesty that he’s not in Hall of fame!” tweeted former Yankees and Mets pitcher David Cone.

With Post Wire Services