Blue Jays President Paul Beeston will be named MLB
President today, according to sources of Jim Byers of the
TORONTO STAR. Beeston "is to announce at a Toronto press
conference this afternoon that he will be the No. 2 man at
major league headquarters in New York." He will work under
Acting Commissioner Bud Selig and "be responsible for the
day-to-day operations of the sport." Byers: "Reports
earlier had suggested major league owners would create the
post of chief operating officer for Beeston. But the word
yesterday was that Beeston would instead get the more
prestigious -- and possibly higher-paying -- post of
president, a new position in the major league hierarchy"
(TORONTO STAR, 7/22). USA TODAY's Hal Bodley adds that
Beeston's move "is likely to lead to Bud Selig accepting a
permanent term as commissioner" (USA TODAY, 7/22). The N.Y.
TIMES reports that opposition to Selig "has existed in the
National League, but one official said yesterday it had
dissipated for the most part" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/22).
ST. PAUL: This morning's Toronto GLOBE & MAIL features
tributes to Beeston. Michael Grange writes he "will be
remembered as an internal cog in a franchise that gave new
shape to the Canadian sports landscape." William Houston
adds that Beeston's tenure with the Blue Jays was marked
"with a degree of grace not often seen in the business."
Stephen Brunt writes that for the team that Beeston "leaves
behind, the loss is significant." Brunt: "And so baseball
gains smoke and gains volume and gains someone who counts
among his friends the most hawkish club owners, members of
the union leadership and many of the players who have worn a
Blue Jays uniform. Toronto loses one of its own, one of a
kind, and now it can start preparing for a baseball future
that, with his absence, will be very different from its
baseball past" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 7/22).
REALIGNMENT: In Chicago, Jerome Holtzman reports that
Selig "is expected" to call an owners meeting "within the
next 10 days and, more than likely, will not receive
approval for his massive realignment proposal unless it is
adjusted." While "a majority" of clubs "are in favor," any
club "being moved could kill it" or delay the restructuring
until after the '99 season (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 7/22).
