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For the last 22 years Bud Selig has been the commissioner or acting commissioner of baseball. At the time, Selig had been the owner of the Brewers, a position he had to give up due to obvious conflicts of interest. However, with Selig planning on retiring following the 2014 season, the search is on for a new commissioner.
As it turns out, there is still a chance a former Brewers owner would be commissioner. According to the New York Times, current owner Mark Attanasio has interviewed to take over for Selig as the next MLB commissioner.
Of course, the odds of Attanasio being elected to the post appear to be slim. Rumors of late have Red Sox owner Tom Werner and MLB vice presidents Rob Manfred and Tim Bronson as the top three candidates with a vote scheduled for next week. The fact that Attanasio and Rays' owner Stuart Sternberg interviewed indicates the two small-market big shots have at least some chance, however.
Were Attanasio to overcome overwhelming odds and take a spot at the head of the MLB, the ramifications for the Brewers would be instantaneous. A search for a new owner would likely commence immediately, though Attanasio could hand control to a family member, as Selig did with daughter Wendy Selig-Prieb. Attanasio in the office could also continue the modest changes Selig has made to help protect small markets like Milwaukee.
For now, however, it looks like Attanasio will stick around with the Brewers a while longer. If he is interested in moving up in the baseball ranks, there appears to be a strong possibility that he will have support to take a more powerful role someday.
Attanasio bought the Brewers from the Selig family in September 2004. His willingness to open up his wallet and his desire to field a winning team has, naturally, made him a popular figure among the team's fans.
