The Commissioner of Major League Baseball visited the University of New Haven on April 21 to speak with students about his life in the industry.
Allan “Bud” Selig flew into New Haven late Wednesday afternoon to give a lecture at UNH sponsored by the university’s Sports Industry Club. First, he sat down with the Charger Bulletin for a quick interview.
As a student at the University of Wisconsin majoring in history and political science, Selig always thought he would go on to be a history professor. He was (and is) passionate about the subject, but America’s favorite pastime turned into his career.
“I loved baseball,” he said, “and everybody in the world knew it, and nobody could’ve dreamed that it would’ve come out the way it did.”
Still, Selig maintained that his college education was worthwhile. He told the Charger Bulletin, “Here I am, many years later now; I really thought when I was at the University of Wisconsin that I was going to be a history professor. That’s what I wanted to be. I think it gave me a great education, and I’m happy I majored in history. It really taught me a lot of things about life. I’d also encourage getting a great education and a great general education.”
In addition to his job as commissioner, Selig teaches at both his alma mater and Marquette University, where he pursues his college dreams of educating. A class he teaches now is called “Sports and Society, 1960-Present.”
“I have an office in the history building and every time I go in there…I wonder what it would’ve been like if I had turned out to have a life a lot different than I could’ve ever dreamed. It would’ve been a much different kind of life; much more, I guess, sedate given the kind of job that I have.”
He certainly would not be traveling to UNH to speak to the crowded Alumni Lounge in Bartels Hall, filled with baseball fans, sports professionals, and students hoping to have a future in the sports management field.
Selig stepped up to the microphone a little after 7:00 p.m. and told the crowd he was extremely happy to be there after having a long day, undoubtedly referring to the recent transfer of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ ownership from Frank McCourt to the MLB organization. Considering the controversy, the speech’s theme of integrity seemed intentional for more reasons than one.
“The best interest of the sport transcends everything else,” said Selig during his speech. “I’ve always believed that.”
He went back to that again and again, weaving it into the stories of his long career that started in the 1960’s. Baseball is a social institution, he told the crowd, and it is part of his job to take on social responsibilities, which he called “a privilege.”
While Selig did cater to the sports fans in the room, his message applied to everyone. Amid the controversies that spanned his career, he sought to be an unbiased leader who provided “hope and faith” to professionals and fans alike.
A brief question and answer session followed the lecture; the questions revolved around audience concerns, like team relocation and steroid use. Then there was a meet and greet where fans could say a quick hello to Selig and maybe even get a picture.
Although the evening was great networking event and learning experience for Sports Management majors at UNH, many other students came just because they were interested. Trevor Williams, a junior majoring in Criminal Justice, said, “I got to hear the commissioner of baseball speak. When’s the next time I’ll get to do something like that?”
