He wasn't a player, manager or an owner, but he belongs in Cooperstown

http://www.NewsAndOpinion.com | Will baseball officially embrace Marvin Miller by putting the players association's leader in the hall of fame?

Marvin Miller wasn't a player, manager or an owner, but he was just as important to baseball, and maybe more so, as the biggest stars, managers, commissioners and owners. Simply put: Marvin Miller changed the baseball industry by convincing players to stick together and demanding their share of the economic pie.

Miller could be named to baseball's Hall of Fame today, but there are those who insist that putting Miller into the Hall is wrong because he ruined baseball. Miller has been accused of ruining baseball for more than 35 years so he is used to the naysayers who included owners baseball writers and fans.

But Miller should be recognized by the veteran's committee for being a builder, he certainly did more for the game than many of the non-players that have plaques in the Cooperstown museum.

Baseball is a different industry because of Miller's influence and that influence is felt not only in baseball, but the entire sports industry.

He deserves a Cooperstown honor.

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JWR contributor Evan Weiner is a radio commentator on "The Business of Sports" for Westwood One's Metro Networks. He is being presented with the United States Sports Academy's Distinguished Service Award for 2003. Comment on this column by clicking here.

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