Friday, February 2
• Keynote Address 1:15 p.m
"Baseball in American Society"
Bud Selig
Commissioner of Major League Baseball
 Allan H. “Bud” Selig was elected the ninth Commissioner of Baseball July 9, 1998, by a unanimous vote of the 30 Major League Baseball club owners.
Selig was born in Milwaukee and received a bachelor’s degree in American history and political science from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in 1956. After serving two years in the armed forces, Selig returned to Milwaukee and began working in the automobile business with his father. Selig maintains a tie to that industry as president of the Selig Executive Lease Company.
A lifelong baseball fan, Selig, while growing up, followed the old Milwaukee Brewers minor league team and the Chicago Cubs. He became a Braves fan when the National League franchise moved to Milwaukee from Boston in 1953. He subsequently became the team’s largest public stockholder before selling his stock in 1965 when the team moved to Atlanta.
Upon learning of the Braves’ intended move to Atlanta, Selig founded “Teams Inc.” an organization dedicated to returning Major League Baseball to Milwaukee. The group, which later changed its name to “The Brewers,” arranged for several Chicago White Sox games to be played in Milwaukee in 1968. After failing to purchase the White Sox in 1969, Selig’s efforts finally were rewarded in 1970 when a Seattle bankruptcy court awarded the Seattle Pilots franchise to Selig and his investors.
The Brewers appeared in the 1982 World Series, losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. The club won seven “Organization of the Year” awards during Selig’s tenure as club president, including the TOPPS “Organization of the Year” award in 1987, ’89, ’91 and ’92. In addition, the Brewers won an unprecedented three-straight Baseball America awards from 1985-87.
Selig’s active role in baseball, in the Milwaukee community and throughout the nation has resulted in his receiving many awards, including the 2005 Diversity Leadership Award at the Diversity and Women Leadership Summit and Gala in 2005.
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