Major League Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig is already an icon in the Milwaukee sports world – he’s even been commemorated in bronze outside Miller Park.
Now, another Milwaukee institution is honoring Selig. The Marquette University Law School named Selig an adjunct faculty and distinguished lecturer in sports law and policy last week.
The new position is more of a formalization of the relationship between Selig and the law school, according to Matt Mitten, a professor of law and director of the National Sports Law Institute.
“Commissioner Selig has been coming in the last couple of years and has given four excellent lectures,” Mitten said. “It’s really formalizing what has already been a very productive relationship.”
Mitten said Selig brings a unique perspective to his lectures.
“He has accumulated a wide breadth of knowledge and experience,” Mitten said. “He knows more sports law than most lawyers, and he presents a tremendous opportunity for students to enhance their learning.”
Selig, however, will not serve in the normal capacity of a professor. Instead of teaching a host of classes, Selig will give a series of lectures to professional sports law classes.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed the lively dialogue with students in the classroom at Marquette Law School over the past several years,” Selig said in a university press release. “It is very rewarding for me to pass on some of my experiences and hopefully enrich their legal education by discussing sports law and business issues affecting the historical development, structure and operations of Major League Baseball.”
Selig has been the MLB commissioner for 18 years in both an interim and permanent basis, and is widely regarded as one of the most influential overseers of the game. Under his direction, the league has grown to record attendance and revenue.
Most Wisconsinites remember Selig as the man that brought baseball back to Milwaukee. Selig was a minority owner of the Milwaukee Braves and fought hard against a relocation of the team, which ultimately happened when the franchise moved to Atlanta after the 1965 season.
After buying the failing Seattle Pilots and relocating the club, the Milwaukee Brewers started professional play in 1970.
Under Selig, the Brewers reached their first and only World Series — a seven-game loss to the St. Louis Cardinals — and won seven “Organizations of the Year” awards. After assuming the post of commissioner, Selig relinquished ownership to his daughter, Wendy Selig-Prieb.
Sports law students seem impressed with the announcement.
“He brings a lot of notoriety to our program,” said Tim Bucher, a second-year law student.
Carolina Dutriz, a second-year law student, said Selig has a good reputation with law students, and she is excited to attend a lecture.
“From what I’ve heard, (Selig) is really open and honest with students,” Dutriz said. “He takes a lot of questions, and it’s a very exciting opportunity.”