Kuhn, Bowie K.

Kuhn, Bowie K.

(1926– ) lawyer, baseball commissioner; born in Takoma Park, Md. (descendant of Jim Bowie, 1796–1836). He earned his law degree at the University of Virginia (1950) and went on to the firm of Wilkie, Farr and Gallagher (1950–69) where he counseled several baseball clients. After representing the major league baseball club owners in negotiations in 1968, he was chosen to be commissioner of baseball (1968–84). During his term, the salaries, prestige, and arrogance of all concerned with professional baseball attained new heights and he was the recipient of both praise and blame. He was forced out in 1984 and told his story in Hardball: The Education of a Baseball Commissioner (1987). He returned to private practice in New York City, but his firm, Myerson and Kuhn, got involved in some questionable practices and went bankrupt (1989); threatened with legal action, Kuhn took refuge in Florida.