
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 9, 1994                   TAG: 9406100024
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: The New York Times|
DATELINE: CINCINNATI                                LENGTH: Short

BUDIG GIVEN AL POST

Baseball owners, continuing to turn to non-traditional talent pools to fill the game's highest-ranking executive positions, Wednesday named Gene Budig, the chancellor of the University of Kansas, as president of the American League.

Budig, 55, was elected unanimously to a five-year term by the 14 American League owners. He will become the league's seventh president Aug. 1, succeeding Dr. Bobby Brown, a former cardiologist and New York Yankees infielder, who is retiring after 10 years as league president.

It marked the second time this year baseball owners had elected a league president who not only replaced a former major-league player, but who spent the bulk of his adult life in something other than professional sports.

In March, Len Coleman replaced Bill White, a former major-league first baseman, as president of the National League after having served as executive director of marketing development for baseball for 21/2 years.

Coleman had been a municipal finance banker and the energy commissioner in the cabinet of a former New Jersey governor, Brendan Byrne.

The trend toward turning to other fields to fill some of the highest positions in the sport could well continue, since George Mitchell, the Senate majority leader, is considered the leading candidate for the still-vacant office of commissioner.

Budig does have one tie to the game. He is a member of the board of directors of the Kansas City Royals, a post he will resign once he assumes the AL presidency.

by CNB