Twelve month period showcases impressive list of accomplishments for baseball’s Selig, who leads by consensus building --

Charlotte, NC (December 21, 2006) – Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily today named Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig  their Executive of the Year.

 Selig has put together an impressive body of work during his 14-year tenure as MLB’s top executive. But in 2006, he had a career year, earning him the 2006 SportsBusiness Journal/SportsBusiness Daily Executive of the Year award.  The season saw record revenue ($5.2 billion), record attendance (more than 76 million), a new labor deal without a threat of work stoppage, three new television and media agreements, long-awaited stadium deals in Washington, Minnesota and Oakland, the successful rollout of the World Baseball Classic, and the seventh different World Series champion in as many years.

“Baseball under Bud Selig's leadership has done in one calendar year what for most people would be a great career,” Ed Goren, president of Fox Sports, tells SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily in the Dec. 25 issue out Monday.  Fox Sports in July committed $1.8 billion to MLB between 2007 and 2013 in one of those new TV deals. 

NBA Commissioner David Stern added, “In terms of a combination of putting out fires, defusing crises, building consensus - including collective-bargaining consensus with ownership – and growing revenues and the stature of the brand, he’s had not only a good year, he’s had a good decade.”

An editorial committee from SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily met throughout 2006 to select its Executive of the Year, which recognizes accomplishments for the calendar year.  Selig was selected after months of nominations, research, discussion and debate. 

“Bud Selig is often viewed by sports fans as lacking the vision and leadership of his colleagues at other leagues,” said Abraham Madkour, Executive Editor of both SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily. “But if you’re in the business, you have to appreciate his list of achievements in 2006. He tirelessly works the phones to build a consensus among the owners, he has a very strong management team at Major League Baseball, he delegates effectively and allows a talented staff to do their job.  He’s become a very strong CEO for the sport.”

This is the fourth time the publications have issued a combined award.  Prior to 2003, each publication issued a separate award.  Previous winners include:

Bush, a member of two World Series winning teams with the Minnesota Twins, had joined the Cubs as a special assistant to general manager Jim Hendry on Jan. 26, 2005. He also served as the organization's minor league hitting instructor in 1999.

Bush, a first baseman and outfielder, was a career .251 hitter in 1,219 major league games, all with the Twins.