MLBPA Boss Donald Fehr To Step Down

Donald Fehr has been the executive director the Major League Baseball Players Association since December 1985. During a press conference Monday afternoon, he announced that tenure will come to a close within a year. Assuming the board approves the move, his replacement will be general counsel Michael Weiner. Fehr had originally joined the association as a general counsel in August 1977.

Fehr has overseen quite a bit of polarizing event during his time leading the players Association. On his watch: The infamous Steroids Era, a player strike that resulted in the canceling of the World Series, the beginning of drug testing, expansion, realignment, testimony on Capitol Hill on more than one occasion and a free agency collusion case in which he won a $280 million settlement from the owners for the players.

Brewers infielder Craig Counsell, a member of the MLBPA Executive Subcommittee, said discussions on replacing Fehr started over the winter and that he made his decision final a "couple of months" ago.

"It's the right time, as far as he's concerned," Counsell told FanHouse, "as far as where we are with the [basic] agreement [being in place]."

"It's not an easy job," Counsell said. "He's done it well for a very long time."

Giants infielder Rich Aurilia, a former member of the Executive board, said it is unfair to blame the Steroids Era solely on Fehr.

"For me, it's a shame that possibly that's how he's remembered, as opposed to all the good things he's done for the players and the game," Aurilia told FanHouse.

"You know what, there is nobody to blame [for steroids]. It's something that just happened. The people that criticize [Fehr], if they had him as a union leader, they would be more than pleased what he does for them."

Of the many instances where Fehr was successful during his reign atop the association, one of the biggest feathers in his cap -- other than the aforementioned gigantic free agency collusion settlement -- has to be the successful resistance of the implementation of a salary cap. The NFL, NBA and NHL all have salary caps, but Major League Baseball does not. The players have always resisted one, even when the owners pushed for it. Fehr's leadership was instrumental, especially during the mid-1990s, in avoiding the passage of one.

"We have had some good times and some difficult times over the years", Fehr said. "Over all of those years, players remained unified, involved, and absolutely determined to achieve fair agreements. That is what counted. That is what will count in the years to come."

Fehr is turning 61 years old next month, and, at this time, there is no indication as to what his future endeavors will entail. He did let on why he chose now to step down.

"It has been a high privilege to be entrusted with the leadership of this extraordinary union for the last 25 years, and I am enormously proud of what the players have accomplished during that time," Fehr said. "But now, about two years before the next round of collective bargaining, is the right time for me to relinquish my position and for the players to name new leadership. Accordingly, I have informed members of the Executive Board that I will resign effective not later than next March 31."

He also gave his full blessing to Weiner.

"Michael has been at my side during all the battles we have fought over the last 20 years and has been a major part of our successes," Fehr said. "He is clearly the most qualified person to become the next Executive Director, and carry on the work of the Players Association in the years to come."

"It seems like Don was kind of teaching Michael the way for a while now," Mets player rep J.J. Putz told FanHouse, in reaction of the news. "He just said enough was enough. He felt tired. He felt it was best for the union if he stepped down and put a new face on it."

FanHouse's Ed Price and Jeff Fletcher contributed to this report.