MLB: Kuhn says baseball is in good shape

In his 15 years as commissioner of Major League Baseball, Kuhn used his beliefs to try to solidify the sport as America's national pastime.

During his tenure, baseball's popularity increased tremendously -- attendance more than tripled and television revenue increased by more than $10 million.

Kuhn, who was the master of ceremonies at a fund-raising dinner Tuesday night for Ave Maria University at LaPlaya Beach and Golf Club, is still a big believer of baseball.

Even with free agency, revenue sharing and talks of contraction -- everything Kuhn was totally against and still is -- he believes that baseball will once again be the king of all sports.

"Baseball has a great advantage over its principal competitor, football," the 77-year-old Kuhn said. "Because football is strictly an American citizen's game. Baseball is the international sport of today. Baseball is the dramatic sport among the big three (major sports: MLB, NFL, NBA) for internationalization. You are going to see this develop into things you haven't even envisioned yet."

A vision is what Kuhn had when he accepted the post of commissioner on an interim basis in February of 1969. While he was hesitant to give up a promising career as a New York lawyer, Kuhn said his love for the game got the best of him.

"I wanted the job in many ways, but, at the same time, I was in the middle of a very promising legal career and there are all kinds of things that go with that, that don't go along with being the commissioner of baseball," said Kuhn, who was given the first of two seven-year contracts after five months on the job. "You get to work with a bunch of very capable people, you are not in the public eye and, to put it on a more commercial basis, you make more money."

It was principle that convinced him to take the post, and principles is what he lived by during his reign.

While his legacy is known for helping the game grow, Kuhn mostly will be remembered for the disciplinary decisions he handed down.

In trying to make baseball a wholesome and pure sport, Kuhn suspended players and owners for their off-the-field conduct, nixed trades for the better of the game and halted strikes before they ever materialized.

He suspended the likes of Denny McLain, George Steinbrenner, Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle. He stopped Oakland A's owner Charlie Finley from selling off star players Joe Rudi and Vida Blue for profit. And he ordered players and owners back to work twice, averting strikes.

Kuhn said he has no regrets over any of his actions as commissioner. To this day, Kuhn is admired by many for sticking to his personal values while governing the game.

"He's a good person," said former Notre Dame football coach Gerry Faust, who also spoke Tuesday night. "He stays on line, he doesn't get off the line. He's a straight shooter that does things the ethical way, the right way. He was one of the best in the business."

Kuhn said he gained his values from one of his childhood idols, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, the first commissioner of baseball.

Landis brought integrity to the game in a time of turmoil. Ruling with an iron fist, Landis immediately banished 15 players involved in the Black Sox scandal of 1919 and, at one time, had 53 players ineligible.

Kuhn said he tried to follow Landis' lead.

"I didn't start out the first year being a fan; I was a little young for that but I became a fan of Kenesaw Mountain Landis," Kuhn said. "It was The Depression, times were tough, war was coming and Landis of all the people in the country was one that struck me most as having those kind of values that the country needed. I was a great fan of his and he was a disciplinarian."

Kuhn admits that many of his decisions weren't popular. The most unpopular was the banning of Hall of Famers Mays and Mantle for their association with casinos. He said he didn't ban them; it was their prerogative.

"I gave them a choice," Kuhn said. "By this time they were coaches and I said to them, 'If you want to work for the casinos I plead with you not to do it. It's not good for the game or you long-term. But I can understand they will pay you more money. I can understand. But I'm going to ask you to make a choice and I hope you make a choice in the favor of baseball.' "

Even today, Kuhn said he's constantly asked about the need for discipline in baseball. The most popular question being what should happen to Pete Rose. Kuhn said he has an opinion on the all-time hit leader, but because he is the longest standing member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, he can't comment.

What Kuhn could comment on was the excitement that has returned to baseball. He called this past postseason the greatest of his lifetime.

Even though commissioner Bud Selig has some staunch opposition, Kuhn feels that Selig has improved the game and has it headed in the right direction.

"I think it is going to get better and I think Selig has made some moves that are strengthening the game," Kuhn said. "I think we are going to get more competition and we are going to get more teams in competition. You can see. Look who has been winning. Try on the Florida Marlins for size. It's been great stuff."

And even though Kuhn doesn't believe in some of the changes -- free agency, revenue sharing and contraction -- he thinks it's what baseball needs to continue to grow.

"There are many things that go on when you are struggling that you don't like," Kuhn said. "I don't like revenue sharing philosophically. Practically, I understand it. Philosophically, I don't. It's not American. It's socialism. But look at the other sports, they are all socialized by the need of competition. So I live with that I don't like it."

Proof that Kuhn's love for baseball even outweighs his beliefs.