Historical Baseball Figure Dies

Marvin Miller, one of the most powerful men in the history of American sports, has died. As the leader of the baseball players union he revolutionized not only baseball but all of sports. He was 95 and passed away after being diagnosed with liver cancer in August. In his 16 years as executive director of the Major League Players Association, starting in 1966, Miller fought owners on many fronts, winning free agency for the players in December 1975. Three years before that he led the players on the first walkout in baseball history. On April 5, 1972, signs posted at major league parks simply said "No Game Today." The strike, which lasted 13 days, was to be followed by a walkout during spring training in 1976 and a midseason job action that darkened the stadiums for seven weeks in 1981.