Bud Selig Statue, Miller Park

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

The Brewers announced today that they will honor Major League Baseball Commissioner and former team owner Bud Selig with a statue at Miller Park’s Home Plate Plaza.

Selig’s statue will join those of Hank Aaron and Robin Yount, which were unveiled on April 5, 2001, the first year of Miller Park’s existence. The first two statues were donated by the Allan H. (Bud) Selig Foundation.

The ceremony to unveil the new statue will be staged on Aug. 24 at 1 p.m. at Miller Park.

“We are proud to honor Commissioner Selig for all of his efforts on behalf of the Milwaukee Brewers and Major League Baseball,” said Brewers owner Mark Attanasio.

“The Brewers and Miller Park are in this city because of the commissioner’s vision and dedicated efforts. Just as importantly, he has remained a prominent and highly philanthropic member of our community while effectively leading Major League Baseball during his tenure as baseball’s top executive.”

The statue will be cast in bronze, measure over seven feet in height not including the base, and is being designed and produced by Brian Maughan, who (along with Douglas Kwart) also created the Yount and Aaron statues.

I think this is entirely appropriate.

Although I have serious issues with how Selig, in effect, condoned the players' use of performance enhancing drugs by failing to seriously address the matter, I think his legacy involving the Brewers and baseball in Milwaukee should be celebrated.

Yes, Selig was at the helm of Major League Baseball during a very dark era, when lying, drug abusing players were permitted to break records held by the real heroes of baseball.

It took way too long to implement tough drug-testing, but it is in place now. In Selig's defense, he did have a hostile players' union to deal with, making his job more difficult. It was a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. That doesn't excuse his inaction, just the reality of the situation.

Additional details regarding the Aug. 24 unveiling ceremony will be released at a later date.

If Milwaukee can have a Bronze Fonz downtown, certainly a Bronze Bud at Miller Park is fitting.