This is a little late but I believe a few words need to be said about the man. No one changed baseball more than did Marvin Miller. He single handedly transformed baseball from a game where the players were grossly under compensated and treated like indentured servants. More than any player or owner, Miller eliminated the game's economic shackles and gave us the game we watch today. He succeeded where Curt Flood failed--another hero deserving greater recognition.

This off season, when we debate adequate salary ranges for free agents, where we wonder if Simpson will kick in a few million to secure Greineke, and where a free agent's freedom to choose a team has become the modern normal, please remember it was Miller who forged this new baseball universe.

Before Miller there were no rich players. Those as successful as Mays struggled in retirement, often forced to take near-humiliating jobs to pay the bills. Before Miller many, if not most players needed off season jobs to stay above water. Anyone with any interest in baseball history must read The Glory of their Times to learn how helpless these players were in dealing with their team snd owner.

Baseball economics is still a long way from the economics imposed upon and enjoyed by many of the rest of us. When a player graduates high school he is drafted by a single team, a team that is strongly encouraged to limit its financial compensation. Once in the system the player remains stuck with that club for multiple seasons at very low pay. If the player succeeds against all odds and becomes a major league player, he remains stuck with his team, and stuck with below market compensation for several years of service. Not until the attainment of FA status can the player sit at the table with an owner as an economic equal.

Miller didn't fix everything, but accomplished more than anyone else. If I were a player I would boycott the HoF until Marvin is adequately canonized.

Hear, hear. That was beautiful.

Pour one out for him.

Thank you very much, Andy. I will hoist at least one tonight while leafing through Ritter's The Glory of Their Times.

A few words from others:

http://m.theatlanticwire.com/national/2012/11/legendary-baseball-union-chief-marvin-miller-dies-95/59352/

Bouton quoted in Wiki:
Referring to the 12-man voting board, Jim Bouton said, "How did these people vote, and why are their votes kept secret? And why aren't there more players on that committee? Hank Aaron, Jim Bunning, Bob Gibson, Fergie Jenkins—they're all on the committee for reviewing the managers and umpires. Essentially, the decision for putting a union leader in the Hall of Fame was handed over to a bunch of executives and former executives. Marvin Miller kicked their butts and took power away from the baseball establishment—do you really think those people are going to vote him in? It's a joke... I blame the players. It's their Hall of Fame; it's their balls and bats that make the hall what it is. Where are the public outcries from Joe Morgan or Reggie Jackson, who was a player rep? Why don't these guys see that some of their own get on these committees? That's the least they owe Marvin Miller. Do they think they became millionaires because of the owners' generosity?""[1]

http://www.thanksmarvin.com/index-main.html