BUD SELIG's “first day in the new role of commissioner emeritus really wasn't much different from the 8,173 days” he ran MLB, according to a front-page piece by Tom Haudricourt of the MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL. One “major difference” yesterday was that “much of the paperwork was in the form of congratulatory letters on his career as commissioner.” Selig “took a few telephone calls, made a couple, then hopped in his black Lexus for the ride to his spacious downtown suite on the 30th floor of the U.S. Bank building, which he will continue to occupy despite retiring from full-time duty.” Selig said of whether his day felt any different than during his tenure, “Not really; a little bit; so far, no.” Haudricourt notes Selig's “lone visitor” yesterday was Brewers COO RICK SCHLESINGER, who “brought framed artwork from the team's farewell messages.” Schlesinger then had Selig “fulfill a promise to do something he never had done in more than two decades in office -- send an email.” Selig's e-mail “made it through to Schlesinger's smartphone” (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 1/27).
COOPERSTOWN BOUND? SI.com’s Jay Jaffe wrote Selig is “likely to be elected” to the Baseball HOF by the Expansion Era Committee “during its next go-round in December 2016, for July 2017 induction.” Jaffe: “Perhaps it shouldn't be so easy.” While he has a “fairly strong case as the greatest commissioner in baseball history, that title says as much about the shortcomings of his predecessors as it does Selig's own successes.” At a time when strong candidates “have difficulty being elected to the Hall because of voters’ intense scrutiny, it’s only fair to remember Selig’s shortcomings.” If he were “to be held to the same standard, he might have to wait much longer for enshrinement” (SI.com, 1/26).
