AA St. Paul Saints

Saints Host Bud Selig Retirement Party

Published on July 10, 2008 under American Association (AA)
St. Paul Saints News Release


ST. PAUL, MN (July 10, 2008) - Remember when Bud Selig announced he was retiring The St. Paul Saints certainly do and they are going to throw him the retirement party to remember even though the Commissioner of Major League Baseball is still in office for another three and a half years.

On Tuesday, July 15 the Saints will throw the bash at Midway Stadium even though the commissioner will be in New York as part of the Major League All-Star Game. The commissioner will be honored with gifts ranging from a cane and rocking chair, to a gift certificate to his favorite restaurant for the early bird special. He's likely to receive fishing equipment, golf clubs and a trip to Florida to check out a retirement community.

During the evening's festivities highlights from the 1994 World Series will be shown and ties will be given out to lucky fans that walk through the gates.

The unfortunate part of the evening is the contract for the hard working Saints entertainment staff expires at noon on the 15th, so if no deal is brokered between the management and the entertainers, there is a possibility of a strike. That means no music, no rollercoaster and no Seigo.

Along with labor potentially striking, one section of Midway Stadium will be contracted.

Commissioner Selig made it known back in 2006 that once his contract was up at the end of 2009 he planned to call it quits. "My contract is going to be over. I'm going to be 75 years of age. I want to teach - I've already had some great offers - and want to write a book," Selig said. "I think that will be enough. There's no question, because there are other things I really would like to do."

` He signed a contract extension, however, at the beginning of the year that will keep Selig in office through 2012.

The Saints had planned to be the first team to throw him a retirement party, planning an event during the 2008 baseball season. "The Commissioner has played a major role in many famous Saints promotions over the last decade and we wanted to make sure we were the first team to honor him," said Saints Executive Vice President and General Manager Derek Sharrer.

In 2002, less than 24 hours following the Commissioner's decision to end the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in a 7-7 stalemate, the Saints gave away neckties with a caricature of Selig. Later that summer, the club gave away seat cushions with the likeness of Selig and union president Donald Fehr during Major League labor negotiations.

During the 2007 season, the Saints gave fans the chance to be "suspender-ed" by the Commissioner during "Being Jason Giambi Night." Fans entering the ballpark had a choice between being probed by Senator George Mitchell (and being registered in a drawing for a Ford Probe), or receiving suspenders with Selig's likeness. ESPN The Magazine named the event "Promotion of the Year."

With a retirement party already scheduled, prior to Selig's announcement, on the club's promotional calendar for July 15, 2008, the Saints planned on going through with the event.

"Apparently, Commissioner Selig wasn't ready to retire, despite his repeated comments to the contrary," said Sharrer. "Unfortunately, we had the night set on our promotional schedule, so we're planning to celebrate with or without him."

Fans can purchase tickets and honor the Major League Baseball Commissioner by contacting the Saints box office at 651-644-6659 or visiting saintsbaseball.com.

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American Association Stories from July 10, 2008


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