Major League Baseball Commissioners

Since its debut during the Civil War, baseball has evolved from a mere recreational activity used by soldiers to pass the time in army camps into a major sporting industry generating millions of dollars of revenue annually. Like any large corporation, there are many positions; both on the field and off, required to keep the business of Major League Baseball running.

Beyond the obvious jobs of coaches and players, there are countless support and administrative personnel facilitating the "behind the scenes" aspects of the sport. Since its inception, professional baseball has appointed one top executive, the Commissioner of Baseball, to oversee the entire operation and maintain the integrity of the game. Unfortunately, like most public officials, the Commissioner is often forgotten in times of prosperity, yet the first to be blamed when problems arise. It is a job that requires not only a tremendous love for the game, but also an even greater patience for the media.

From Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis to Alan H. "Bud" Selig, most Commissioners have experienced disappointment by the fans at one time or another. Still, their legacy is often more positive than negative and all deserve to be remembered as custodians of the game.