Rob Manfred has been a part of the Major League Baseball world in different capacities for over three decades.
He started as outside counsel for the league in 1987 and eventually worked up to chief negotiation in collective bargaining talks. He took over for former commissioner Bud Selig as the league’s commissioner in 2015.
In a few years, however, Manfred’s time as commissioner will come to a close.
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Manfred told reporters in February that, when his current term as the league’s commissioner is up in January 2029, he’ll be retiring, according to ESPN.
“You can only have so much fun in one lifetime,” Manfred said to reporters at the press conference. “I have been open with [owners] about the fact that this is going to be my last term.”
It’s rare that a commissioner finds themselves in the good graces of their sport’s fans, but Manfred’s tenure will likely be as polarizing as they come.
On one hand, he was in charge during the 2021-22 lockout that nearly disrupted the MLB season. Fans also didn’t like how he handled the Astros’ scandal.
But advancements like implementing a pitch clock and initiatives like finally including Negro League statistics into MLB records might stand out as highlights on an otherwise tenuous resume.
