Bud Selig is the ninth Commissioner of Baseball. Appointed “acting commissioner” in 1992, he was elected full-time commissioner in 1998, and extended several times to serve until completion of the 2014 season.

Selig, who had been owner and president of the Milwaukee Brewers National League franchise at the time of his ascendance to the Commissioner’s office, has overseen baseball‘s development into the 21st century.

Among changes that have taken place during his 20+ years of leadership: the introduction of the “wild card’ for AL and NL playoffs, the introduction of inter-league play (1997), the addition of two expansion teams in 1998 (Tampa Bay & Arizona), the transfer of the Montreal franchise to Washington, D.C. (2004), conditional instant replay, and the merging of the National and American Leagues under the Office of the Commissioner.

Selig instituted a modern concept of revenue sharing among MLB teams, oversaw a 400 percent increase of MLB revenues and annual record-breaking attendances. During his term of service, 19 MLB cities have built new modern stadiums. And, he has presided over controversial player issues concerning performance enhancing drugs, and instituted rule changes and penalties to govern that situation.

In December 2016, Selig was elected to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.