(Marvin Miller with Joe Niekro and Nolan Ryan many years ago)
Marvin Miller was named executive director of MLB Players Association on this day in 1966. He became one of the most important labor union leaders ever and a very consequential advocate for the baseball players.
Miller died in November 2012.
Looking back at the last 40-something years of "free agency", some of the salaries are indeed ridiculous and small market teams were impacted.
However, Mr. Miller did not force any team to offer anyone a salary. "Free agency" only gave the players the opportunity to negotiate. It did not force any owner to offer any amount or terms.
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