By Wikipedia

Marvin Julian Miller (born April 14, 1917 in The Bronx, New York City) is the former executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) from 1966 - 1982. Under Miller's direction, the players' union was transformed into one of the strongest unions in the United States.

Miller, a labor economist, first started at the National War Labor Relations Board, and then moved on to the Machinist Union and the United Auto Workers. Finally, he worked his way up the United Steelworkers union to become its leading economist and negotiator. He was elected head of the MLBPA in 1966 after the first two choices rejected the offer.

Miller became unpopular with both fans and owners when he led the union to two strikes, the first in 1972 which lasted 13 days, and again in 1981 which lasted 50 days. In 1975, Miller led Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally to file a grievance arbitration; the ensuing Seitz decision effectively eradicated the "reserve clause" and ushered in free agency. Quite naturally, he is popular with the multimillionaire players with enough of a sense of history to appreciate his contributions to their wealth.

Baseball Executive References