Donald Fehr
Encyclopedia
Donald M. Fehris the executive director of the National Hockey League Players Association. He previously served as the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association
from 1986-2009.
Fehr was raised in Prairie Village, Kansas
. He graduated from Indiana University
and was a member of Sigma Alpha Mu
Fraternity. Fehr received his law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.
As a young lawyer Fehr assisted the MLBPA in the Andy Messersmith
and Dave McNally
arbitration case (later known as the Seitz decision
). In 1977, Marvin Miller
hired Fehr as the Players Association general counsel.
In December 1985, Fehr was voted executive director of the MLBPA after having served as acting director since December 9, 1983. Fehr successfully challenged the owners' collusion
, leading to the owners paying $280 million in damages to the players.
Fehr led the players union through the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike and subsequent World Series
cancellation. He is a protégé of Marvin Miller
and known for his fierce negotiating skills.
Fehr was instrumental in implementing the rejection of future admissions into the MLBPA by replacement players who planned to fill in during the strike of 1995.
On June 22, 2009, Fehr announced his intention to step down as the MLBPA executive director position, recommending Michael Weiner
as his successor. This was subject to the approval of the union's executive board and possible ratification by all players. He officially relinquished his job to Weiner in December, 2009. Shortly after leaving his position as Executive Director of the MLBPA, Fehr took up a position as an advisor to the NHL Players' Association. On December 18, 2010, Fehr was voted in by the NHLPA as their executive director.
Major League Baseball Players Association
The Major League Baseball Players Association is the union of professional major-league baseball players.-History of MLBPA:The MLBPA was not the first attempt to unionize baseball players...
from 1986-2009.
Fehr was raised in Prairie Village, Kansas
Prairie Village, Kansas
Prairie Village is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States, and is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 21,447.- History :...
. He graduated from Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
and was a member of Sigma Alpha Mu
Sigma Alpha Mu
Sigma Alpha Mu , also known as "Sammy", is a college fraternity founded at the City College of New York in 1909. Originally only for Jewish men, Sigma Alpha Mu remained so until 1953, when members from all backgrounds were accepted. Originally headquartered in New York, Sigma Alpha Mu has...
Fraternity. Fehr received his law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.
As a young lawyer Fehr assisted the MLBPA in the Andy Messersmith
Andy Messersmith
John Alexander "Andy" Messersmith is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He was the 12th overall pick of the 1966 amateur draft by the California Angels...
and Dave McNally
Dave McNally
David Arthur "Dave" McNally was a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher from until . He was signed by the Baltimore Orioles and played with them every season except for his final season with the Montreal Expos.McNally has the unique distinction as the only pitcher in Major League...
arbitration case (later known as the Seitz decision
Seitz decision
The Seitz decision was a ruling by arbitrator Peter Seitz on December 23, 1975 which declared that Major League Baseball players became free agents upon playing one year for their team without a contract, effectively nullifying baseball's reserve clause...
). In 1977, Marvin Miller
Marvin Miller
Marvin Julian Miller is a former executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association , from 1966 to 1982. Under Miller's direction, the players' union was transformed into one of the strongest unions in the United States...
hired Fehr as the Players Association general counsel.
In December 1985, Fehr was voted executive director of the MLBPA after having served as acting director since December 9, 1983. Fehr successfully challenged the owners' collusion
Baseball collusion
Baseball collusion refers to owners working together to avoid competitive bidding for player services or players jointly negotiating with team owners....
, leading to the owners paying $280 million in damages to the players.
Fehr led the players union through the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike and subsequent World Series
1994 World Series
The 1994 World Series was canceled on September 14 of that year due to an ongoing strike by the Major League Baseball Players Association, which had begun on August 12...
cancellation. He is a protégé of Marvin Miller
Marvin Miller
Marvin Julian Miller is a former executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association , from 1966 to 1982. Under Miller's direction, the players' union was transformed into one of the strongest unions in the United States...
and known for his fierce negotiating skills.
Fehr was instrumental in implementing the rejection of future admissions into the MLBPA by replacement players who planned to fill in during the strike of 1995.
On June 22, 2009, Fehr announced his intention to step down as the MLBPA executive director position, recommending Michael Weiner
Michael Weiner (executive)
Michael S. Weiner is the executive director or the Major League Baseball Players Association. He assumed the role in December 2009, replacing Don Fehr. Weiner joined the organization in 1988 and had been general counsel since 2004...
as his successor. This was subject to the approval of the union's executive board and possible ratification by all players. He officially relinquished his job to Weiner in December, 2009. Shortly after leaving his position as Executive Director of the MLBPA, Fehr took up a position as an advisor to the NHL Players' Association. On December 18, 2010, Fehr was voted in by the NHLPA as their executive director.
External links
- Donald M. Fehr, Executive Director mlbplayers.com
- History of the Major League Baseball Players Association mlbplayers.com