Bud Selig Quotations

Money has to be put in the way a club feels it should. If you put money in a new ballpark, that helps to generate revenue so you can spend more money. It should be spent to make the club's operations the best. That will help in the end, and it will mean enhanced payroll.

Major League Baseball has always recognized the influence that our stars can have on the youth of America. As such, we are concerned that recent revelations and allegations of steroid use have been sending a terrible message to young people.

St. Louis is closer to Minneapolis than Milwaukee is.

Major League Baseball is a national institution and we take our responsibilities seriously when it comes to how the game affects the lives of American youth.

The greatest country in the history of the world being attacked. So all of this doesn't mean very much today.

The one thing we know today is we can't continue to do business the way we have in the past.

You mean guys don't get injured in spring training? Guys get hurt walking down the street. All the managers, pitching coaches (are) very sensitive. Look, you can always pick at something, but there's a broader picture, a grander picture.

I wish to thank the Department of State and the Department of Treasury for their assistance in securing the approvals necessary for Cuba to participate in the inaugural World Baseball Classic in March. The federal government thoughtfully and diligently helped us bring the application process to a successful conclusion. Now, with Cuba?s entry in the tournament approved, the World Baseball Classic promises to be an historic event and will guarantee our fans the greatest possible competition among the best players in the world.

I was stunned, shocked. I'm telling you, it gave me chills.

New and old fans throughout the world will have the opportunity to enjoy our great game and see many of baseball's best players competing in this historic event.

Nobody on either side can say that this wasn't vetted properly over a long, long period of time. Other than that, I'll handle the internal matters in my own way.

Obviously, we've only seen parts of things. And the book itself doesn't come out until the end of the month, but we'll review everything that there is to look at.

Obviously we've only seen parts of things. We will review everything there is to look at. I'm sure all of us will read the book.

One of my priorities -- one of the game's priorities -- is the internationalization of baseball. We're doing everything we can to move the sport in an international direction. I think it's going to be absolutely spectacular.

No one denies that it is a problem. It's a problem we can and must deal with now, rather than years from now when the public says, 'Why didn't you do something about it?' I'm very worried about this.

My daughter, Wendy, said, 'Look at it this way: Whichever group you pick, you can't go wrong. They both fit your classical criterion. 'You could have no groups.

Number one, let me say that the program we have is working, ... There's no question about that.

I have been saying for some time that my goal for this industry is zero tolerance. We are acting today to help restore the confidence of our fans in this great game.

I don't have any plans to (meet with Bonds) now. This story has just happened. I want to be very careful as to how I respond.

If we cannot resolve this issue privately, I gladly will accept whatever help is offered by Senator McCain to achieve our ultimate goal,

If we didn't have the right to keep teams where they are, teams would have moved, ... This exemption has promoted stability. It's done the very thing that people talk about wanting to avoid.

We're not discussing contraction at the major league level.

When this investigation is over ... that will be the time for me to make those kind of judgments.

Muhammad Ali is one of the sports legends of our generation. I don't think that that's valid criticism.

Most of the Yankee roster is there. I'll grant you that three of their great stars are here, but their whole pitching staff is there, sans Al Leiter. At some point, sometimes in life you do things that in the long run really help you and your sport.

Major League Baseball is fortunate to have a man of Jimmie Lee's experience, intellect and dedication already on board to handle such a complex and important position as the chief of our baseball operations. Over the years, he has demonstrated considerable skill in working through the labyrinth of our minor league system. I have great confidence that he will be an enormous success in this key position.

Major League Baseball wants to do its share to help those who are suffering from the devastating wreckage caused by Hurricane Katrina. I thank the players' association for joining us in making this initial contribution and I thank in advance our clubs, players, employees, business partners and fans who offer assistance in the days ahead.

Should Sen. Mitchell uncover material suggesting that the scope of this investigation needs to be broader, he has my permission to expand the investigation and to follow the evidence wherever it may lead.

Setting the all-time attendance record for a second straight year shows that baseball's popularity is greater than ever, ... We are living in baseball's golden era.

Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth's record. We don't celebrate anybody the second or third time in.

I don't believe in that, ... Ichiro was given a season to set a record and if he gets it, I will honor it with all the respect it deserves. This is an amazing accomplishment that Ichiro is pursuing. There will be no asterisk, I can assure you of that.

I don't believe in that. Ichiro was given a season to set a record and if he gets it, I will honor it with all the respect it deserves. This is an amazing accomplishment that Ichiro is pursuing. There will be no asterisk, I can assure you of that.

I am very concerned about the large amount of cash consideration involved in the transaction and the length of time over which the cash is being paid,

I am terribly saddened to learn of the passing of Harry Dalton, ... He was one of the great general managers of our generation. I was fortunate to have him serve as general manager of the Milwaukee Brewers from 1978 through 1991.

I am terribly saddened to learn of the passing of Harry Dalton. He was one of the great general managers of our generation. I was fortunate to have him serve as general manager of the Milwaukee Brewers from 1978 through 1991.

I am saddened by the recent announcements of violations of baseball's drug program. There exists some doubt in the public sector about our sincerity in eliminating steroids from the game. That is wrong. We must create an understanding everywhere that when we say we need to rid the game of steroids, we mean it.

Frankly, there is nothing for me to comment. I'm sure Senator Mitchell and his staff are monitoring everything every closely.

Frankly, this was an easy one. This was quick.

I am confident that baseball's many millions of fans will agree that this great game can move forward with pride and honor as we also investigate those who may be implicated in these matters.

Given the very unique circumstances of the situation, I believe their request is a reasonable one and would have no adverse effect on any other club. Therefore, I have determined that the game will not be played.

If a player has a physical problem, I understand.

I don't think people realize how big this is going to be, ... I don't know if I'll be around, but years from now it will be really big. It has huge potential.

For whatever one wants to say, from 1998 on we've come as a sport a long way. I can only deal with the present and the future.

I believe the timing on this proper given the charges, given the specificity of the charges for the first time.

I believe this has to be done sooner rather than later, ... If you ask me what sooner means, I don't know sitting here today, but I know this is a problem that is not going to go away.

Barry hasn't been convicted of anything; it's unfair at this point, ... The sport is having a great year. Has Barry's absence helped or hurt? I don't know, I really don't know.

I have a great deal of confidence today that this will satisfy any concerns they have, ... I'm proud of what the game has done to get to this point.

We must create an understanding everywhere that when we say we need to rid the game of steroids, we mean it,

He was revered throughout the country and will be remembered wherever the game is played. Kirby was taken from us much too soon -- and too quickly.

I am going to finish with my extension in 2009 and that will be it for me. I'll be 75 years old at that point and guys get out of jail faster for goodness sakes.

He's had a remarkable career. Whatever happens, happens.

He's had a remarkable career. Whatever happens, happens. We're going to let nature take its course. Commissioners don't sit around and say, 'I hope this guy breaks it or not.

There is an integrity issue, and that transcends that (progress being made),

He's been in the right place at the right time and taken advantage of it,

There is no change. We have eight groups bidding, and it's aggressive, spirited bidding, and we hope to have a decision in the coming short period of time.

Thank God -- and us --for the wild card.

Local ownership there was critical, and it was crucial to Carl Lindner.

Local ownership there was critical, and it was crucial to Carl Lindner. The one overriding goal we had was to have local ownership.

Mark is doing wonderfully well, ... He is a perfect owner. Thoughtful and quiet. He's got a great farm system going and I predict more good things for my old team. I wish them the best.

some incidents that certainly need to be looked at.

Steroid users cheat the game. After three offenses, they have no place in it.

Physical contact between player and fan in any fashion will not be tolerated.

Our only concern, ... is that if the rain got so bad that it made playing farcical.

I want you to be CEO/COO/General Manager of the Reds. Fix that franchise, pronto, so that it is competitive in 2006.

I'm supposed to be neutral. I'll let you figure it out. My mood is pretty good.

I think this was much more specific. The specificity of these charges said it was time to have an investigation.

I strongly disagree with arbitrator Das' decision today,

I strongly disagree with arbitrator Das' decision today. It sends the wrong message to every one of our constituents: the fans, the media, and our players.

I suppose some people will be offended by it, but in division races, every so often, you'll have an aberration. There's no solution. What are you going to do, deny the existence of this division?

I think they played a very constructive role.

I will review all of the material that is relative in every way. At some point in time I'll have further comment, but until that point in time I will have no further comment.

I will review all of the material that is relative in every way. I'm going to be very sensitive about that. You are playing with people's lives and reputations and you ought to be very careful.

John has had an outstanding career on the field of play, but equally outstanding is the work, support and dedication he and his wife, Dyan, have contributed to the Atlanta community. Their good deeds have been exemplary and in keeping with the tradition of the man for whom this award is named.

I still have an open mind about it but the system is working so beautifully and brilliantly, I don't see it being changed right now.

I will suspend any player who tests positive for an illegal steroid, ... There will be no exceptions. The union is aware of that, and they accept it.

I think from the first game I saw in Orlando between the Dominican and Venezuela, with the intensity in the stands and the flag waving and the intensity on the field, I knew we had begun to achieve what we set out to achieve.

It is not precluded from being decided and announced during the playoffs,

It is a gorgeous day. In Milwaukee, you don't get a day like this until July Fourth.

I think we've made some considerable progress. I think we have some work to be done, though.

I think it's cyclical. It's very hard to determine what variables are at work here. I don't think anyone really knows, and it's hard to draw a conclusion.

We have the toughest program now in American sports, ... and I'm proud of that.

The only response I received from the union is that they were in the process of talking to their players and collecting their feedback. Unfortunately, that was more than five months ago.

Unfortunately, ... that was ... five months ago.

We know that we have to work to do, ... We'll continue to intensify our efforts. I'm very aware, I'm extremely sensitive about it, and I feel badly about it. But we need to get to work to change things.

Will the new owners change the name of the team, redesign the uniforms and all related paraphernalia?

We haven't seen the book. Until we read the book, there's nothing to comment on.

We need to toughen the penalties, ... We need to go 50 games (suspension for the first offense), 100 games (for the second), life (for the third). We need to go to independent testing.

When it comes to the integrity of baseball, an impartial independent investigation is called for. Baseball must confront its problems head on.

Yesterday was a day I was proud to be commissioner of baseball, ... We had a problem and we did something about it. We had a problem. The sport had a problem. This is a problem that had to be solved. If not, somebody else was going to solve it in a more draconian way.

We celebrate new records, that's what we do.

We celebrate new records, that's what we do. We're being consistent. There's nothing to read into that.

We've made some progress on a lot of issues. But progress in the end is when you have a deal.

We're just trying to be consistent. The record is owned by Hank Aaron. There will be plenty of acknowledgments by the media when he passes Ruth, but when a man breaks a record, we'll honor that.

We deeded something away, ... I'm very concerned, but I think we're making progress. We are really going to get into the inner cities.

We deeded something away. I'm very concerned, but I think we're making progress. We are really going to get into the inner cities.

There is a standard of behavior that is expected of our players, which was breached in this case,

We've studied weather, winds, we've studied humidity. There isn't a cloud within 800 miles of here. In Milwaukee, you don't get a day like this until July Fourth.

We've taken a giant step forward. It's a very, very proud day for baseball.

We've talked about that, and we'll continue to talk about that,

We're trying to move as fast as possible. We've got eight great groups, and they are still submitting lots of information. When we know, it will get announced quickly.