Biography:Bowie Kuhn was an American lawyer and sports administrator, best known for serving as the fifth Commissioner of Major League Baseball (1969-1984). He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008.
Prior to be selected as commissioner, Kuhn was even as a lawyer involved in baseball having served as legal counsel to Major League Baseball owners for nearly 20 years. Kuhn then took over when the owners removed his predecessor, William Eckert.
Born:October 28, 1926 Birthplace:Takoma Park, Maryland, USA
1968-02-04 Bowie Kuhn replaces William Eckert as 5th commissioner of baseball
1969-08-13 Temp Commissioner Bowie Kuhn elected for 7-year term by unanimous vote
1969-12-24Curt Flood writes to baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn refusing to accept the Cardinals’ right to deal him and in favor of free agency
1970-06-01 MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn reprimands Houston Astros pitcher Jim Bouton for writing memoir "Ball Four"
1970-09-09 MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspends Detroit Tigers pitcher Denny McLain for carrying a gun
1971-07-07 MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn announces that Negro League players elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame to be given full membership in the Museum
1974-11-28 Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspends NY Yankees owner George Steinbrenner for two years because of his Federal conviction for illegal contributions to political campaigns
1975-07-16 Major League Baseball owners re-elect Commissioner Bowie Kuhn to a 7-year term
1976-06-18 Bowie Kuhn voids Oakland A's sales of players, totaling $35 million - Joe Rudi & Rollie Fingers to Boston Red Sox, and Vida Blue to NY Yankees
1976-12-16 Charlie Finley's $10 million damage suit against Bowie Kuhn begins
1977-01-02 MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn suspends Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner for one year due to tampering charges in Gary Matthews free-agency signing
1978-04-07 US Court of Appeals upholds Commissioner Bowie Kuhn's voiding of attempted player sales by A's owner Charlie Finley in June 1976
1979-03-09 MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn orders baseball to give equal access to female reporters
1982-11-01 MLB owners vote not to renew Commissioner Bowie Kuhn's contract; AL owners vote for Kuhn, 11-3, and NL, 7-5, 2 shy of 3/4 majority required for re-election; eventually replaced by Peter Ueberroth
1984-07-26 Bowie Kuhn announces pitcher Vida Blue is suspended for the rest of 1984 due to cocaine conviction
1984-09-30 Bowie Kuhn ends career as Baseball Commissioner
1984-10-01Peter Ueberroth replaces Bowie Kuhn as 6th commissioner of Major League Baseball; he has a 4 year tenure
Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Peter Ueberroth