Tragically, after a long battle with brain cancer, MLBPA head Michael Weiner has passed away. Weiner was 51-years-old and leaves behind a wife and three children.
Weiner was first diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor in August 2012, and would continue to work in the position he took over from Donald Fehr in 2009, despite the illness.
Weiner, who joined the union in 1998, was known for helping to soften the often militant labour relations that had been a feature of the MLBPA/MLB relationship throughout the 1980s and 1990s. As a result the 1994 MLB Players Strike was the last work stoppage in the sport, and Baseball has gone the longest of all major sports without a work stoppage.
Weiner was also instrumental in helping to create the MLB and MLBPA joint drug agreement, after years of opposition to testing for performance enhancing drugs in baseball.
Acting executive director of the MLBPA, Tony Clark had this to say on Michael Weiner: “Not only has the game lost one of its most important and influential leaders in this generation, all involved in the game have lost a true friend. As one of the most beloved and respected members of the baseball community, Michael will be missed by all of us.”
We at LWOS offer our condolences to Weiner’s family, friends, colleagues, and all who are affected by his loss.
It says a lot about Weiner and the type of kind and caring person that he was, that even after numerous battles between the MLBPA and MLB he was a beloved figure by the players, owners, media, and commissioners office alike. The outpourings of grief from a number of these places were numerous and heartfelt yesterday.
Bud Selig released the following statement:
“All of Major League Baseball mourns the loss of Michael Weiner, a gentleman, a family man, and an extraordinarily talented professional who earned the trust of his membership and his peers throughout the national pastime. Our strong professional relationship was built on a foundation of respect and a shared commitment to finding fair solutions for our industry. I appreciated Michael’s tireless, thoughtful leadership of the Players and his pivotal role in the prosperous state of Baseball today.
“Michael was a courageous human being, and the final year of his remarkable life inspired so many people in our profession. On behalf of Major League Baseball and our 30 Clubs, I extend my deepest condolences to Michael’s wife Diane, their three daughters, his colleagues at the MLBPA and his many friends and admirers throughout the game he served with excellence.”
