Hardball: The Education of a Baseball Commissioner

by Bowie K. Kuhn

When Bowie Kuhn became baseball commissioner in 1969, attendance at games was declining, labor disputes were flaring, and many teams were suffering from poor management and marketing. Fifteen years later, when Kuhn retired, the sport was flourishing. Kuhn had overseen tumultuous changes issuing from a challenge to the reserve clause, the 1981 strike, escalated salaries, free agency, and his controversial rulings on matters ranging from gambling to broadcasting. In Hardball Kuhn reveals how the decisions were made and forthrightly challenges his detractors. The commissioner offers many colorful anecdotes and strong opinions about baseball’s greatest legends from Jackie Robinson to Howard Cosell.

Genres: Baseball, Sports, Autobiography, Nonfiction, Biography

461 pages, Paperback

First published February 12, 1987

Reviews

[Luke Koran · Rating 4 out of 5]

When you talk about a tell-all book from the perspective of a baseball executive, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn’s “Hardball” should be considered the ultimate creation of such a curious subject. Kuhn’s hold-no-punches approach was elegantly told through the filter of his highly-educated and professional background, as well as his utmost confidence in nearly every aspect of his career as both a lawyer and professional sports commissioner. As I came onto the scene in the post-Kuhn era, I cannot judge as to how often Bowie was in the right or how often he re-wrote history in this autobiography. But I can say that I was convinced of Kuhn’s motivations for serving baseball to the best of his abilities, along with his line of rationale. His moment-by-moment account of his three election campaigns was phenomenal - the reader definitely receives a new look at how stubborn owners can be (as well as MLBPA leader Marvin Miller). It was thrilling to hear from the other side of the aisle for a change, as it showcases how much love, respect, and professionalism executives have (or lack thereof) for the sport they are involved in.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kuhn was a self-serving, pompous jerk. But the book is an interesting --though pompous and self-serving-- record of arguably the most important era in the history of the game. For a more palatable perspective, try instead Marvin Miller's "A Whole New Ball Game."

[Nathaniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a preteen when the strike of 1981 took place, so my memories or opinions of Mr. Kuhn have faded from memory; and further my preteen opinions of him are probably worthless. Keeping in mind, memoirs are generally self-serving documents, I was aware of this limitation but I didn't really care. I read it as a history book.

What's fascinating to read about his how Kuhn had to deal with some of baseball's more colorful owners: George Steinbrenner, Charles FInley, Ted Turner, Bill Veeck, and their litany of shenanigans. Kuhn could never find a happy medium with Finley and Veeck. He seemed to develop a reasonable working relationship with Steinbrenner, and late in his tenure Turner; but an argument could be made Steinbrenner and Turner were just blowing smoke at Kuhn.

The biggest subjects in the books are the 1981 strike and his departure. I would definitely followup this book with a biography of Marvin Miller. Kuhn jabs at Miller plenty, some of it even seems below the belt.

His departure, if you like boardroom politics is interesting. Kuhn places Cardinals owner Gussie Busch and Mets owner Nelson Doubleday as the villains of the drama. Busch's grievances with Kuhn seem to be rooted in advertising, and while Busch's positions are strident and he never yields, they make some sense in you understand Busch's position.

Kuhn's ouster probably stung, because seventy percent of the owners voted to keep him on. However since there was organized, ardent, resistance in the National League, again Kuhn places Doubleday and Busch as the driving force, Kuhn is voted out. What's ridiculous is the machinations to try and keep him around, even after all is decided. Kuhn, for reasons I don't understand (other than ego) keeps his name on the replacement list. Further the list of replacements all have commitments they're not ready to leave, so Kuhn's interim stay is ridiculously long, and the battle between him and the National League owners festers. There is a particularly bad meeting between Kuhn and Doubleday, where I would think in hindsight both men would regret the exchange.

During the search for a new commissioner, Turner comes off oddly. I'm not sure if he's politicking or being sincere. The vote about Kuhn was a secret, but personally I'm convinced Turner voted with the "anti-Kuhn" bloc. So when there is a chance Kuhn could resurface as commissioner Turner places some very weird phone calls offering to vote for him. Kuhn suggests gently Turner was making sure he didn't get left out of the majority, and I buy that.

Would I have preferred a hundred pages of a 400 page book not be about Kuhn's ouster and finding his replacement? Certainly, but Kuhn is writing his story, so that's going to happen. After maybe sixty pages, I'd had enough.

The book has it uses as a historical document, as long as you understand the limitations. The writing is merely competent, but there's enough interesting stuff in it to cautiously recommend it to a baseball fan.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

a/k/a "The Wrong Side of History." It's fascinating to read this tell-most from an era, and by a man, who genuinely believes the nonsense baseball told itself about itself 40 years ago. I'm arrogant and can be condescending, and I am in awe of Kuhn's skill at both. With that said, this is, like Marvin Miller's autobiography and John Helyar's "Lords of the Realm," an essential tome in understanding the history from which today's baseball business comes.

[Monte Lamb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reads just like you would think Bowie Kuhn would talk. He came across as pompous and righteous in print and on TV. When reading the book, I could hear his voice reading the book to me it was so much like you would have thought he would have said and how he acted. What the book does is cover a very difficult time in baseball with a lot of transition taking place and many new ideas and ways would be necessary to deal with them. Obviously, the book was written from his point of view. It did come across as self-surving and made him look like he was on the right side of history and was always on high ground morally. Even with this, the book was fascinating and gave a lot of detail and I found it an excellent book. His chapter on Charles O. Finley was worth reading by itself! The infighting by the owners and how they tried to suppress Marvin Miller and the union was also really interesting. You could feel the emotion on all sides of controversial problems in this book. You would almost think that there was never a peaceful moment in baseball during his tenure. If you can work through the self-serving nature of the book, it really gives you a lot of insight into the problems and how they were resolved, for better or worse. I highly recommend the book to any baseball fan.

[Rusty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, though a bit (obviously) one-sided.