Bowie Kent Kuhn (/ˈbuːi ˈkjuːn/; October 28, 1926 – March 15, 2007) was an American lawyer and sports administrator who served as the fifth Commissioner of Major League Baseball from February 4, 1969, to September 30, 1984. He served as legal counsel for Major League Baseball owners for almost 20 years prior to his election as commissioner.
Kuhn kept the reserve clause in baseball, not allowing Curt Flood to enter free-agency. He did get the Hall of Fame to allow Satchel Paige entry into the Hall – by exposing himself to criticism by declaring a “negro league” wing of the Hall.
Kuhn was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008.
