Arnold Weber, the outgoing president at Northwestern University, and U.S. Olympic Committee Executive Director Harvey Schiller are two finalists for baseball commissioner, according to a published report.
The Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph said sources close to baseball’s commissioner search committee confirmed Friday that Weber is a finalist.
Weber, 64, whose resignation from Northwestern is effective Aug. 31, is a noted economist and a leader in academics and labor relations. He served as adviser to five U.S. presidents.
Weber’s White House background may be extremely important to the committee. Several congressmen have threatened to revoke baseball’s antitrust privilege if a strong person, independent of owners, is not selected as commissioner.
Owners are scheduled to vote on a new commissioner at their meetings Jan. 19 in Ft. Lauderdale. The new commissioner needs approval from 21 of baseball’s 28 owners.
Lynn Martin and former Democratic National Chairman Paul Kirk had been reported as front-runners. But Martin, former secretary of labor and U.S. representative from Rockford, withdrew her bid, and sources say Kirk was not part of the final interview process and was never a serious candidate.
