Editing Bud Selig (section)

=== Controversies ===
Selig has been embroiled in a number of controversial decisions during his tenure as commissioner. Notably, he has been accused of favoring the [[Milwaukee Brewers]], his former team, such as he was during the [[2001 Major League Baseball contraction plan|2001 contraction controversy]] when it was suggested the [[Minnesota Twins]] be one of two teams (the other being the [[Montreal Expos]]) to be contracted for economic reasons. Sportswriter [[Rob Dibble]] posted an open letter to Bud Selig, criticizing the plan for benefiting only the Brewers, noting that the contraction of the Twins would benefit the Brewers, as they would potentially claim the Twins' share of the upper Midwest market.<ref>{{cite web|author=Rob Dibble |url=https://www.espn.com/talent/danpatrick/s/2001/1119/1280454.html |title=Open letter to Bud Selig |work=ESPN.com |date=December 1, 2001 |access-date=November 16, 2011}}</ref>

During the [[2011 Los Angeles Dodgers ownership dispute]], he was accused of not acting in good faith towards and treating the Dodgers differently from other teams when he rejected the television deal that [[Frank McCourt (executive)|Frank McCourt]] negotiated that intended to bring the franchise out of bankruptcy, claiming McCourt violated the Baseball Agreement. In comparison, no action was taken against [[New York Mets]] owner [[Fred Wilpon]] despite being in a similar position. United States bankruptcy judge Kevin Gross rendered a stern warning to Selig, stating: "Should the Commissioner falter in proving alleged wrongdoing, the Court may allow LAD (Los Angeles Dodgers) to take further, limited discovery."<ref>{{cite web|author=Bill Shaikin |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2011-oct-07-la-sp-dodgers-mccourt-20111008-story.html |title=Judge sides with MLB, but warns Bud Selig |work=Los Angeles Times |date=October 17, 2011 |access-date=November 16, 2011}}</ref> Some critics have used Selig's handling of the Dodgers to point out a double standard in treatment of MLB owners. More specifically in regards to the Mets, critics have accused Selig of favoritism towards the Mets due to Selig's personal relationship with Wilpon, claiming that it motivated him to stall any possible removal of Wilpon as that club's principal owner.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Span |first1=Emma |title=In final days, Bud Selig keeps turning blind eye to Mets' mess |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2014/09/18/bud-selig-jeff-wilpon-new-york-mets-lawsuit |access-date=May 17, 2024 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |date=September 18, 2014}}</ref>

Selig also notably failed to resolve a 6-year conflict between the [[San Francisco Giants]] and the [[Oakland Athletics]] regarding the Athletics' proposed move to [[San Jose, California|San Jose]].<ref>{{cite news | author=sfgate.com | url=http://www.sfgate.com/athletics/jenkins/article/Oakland-situation-leaves-a-hole-in-Selig-s-legacy-5699653.php |title= Oakland situation leaves a hole in Selig's legacy | newspaper=Sfgate | date=August 20, 2014 | access-date= August 21, 2014}}</ref> Selig established a blue-ribbon panel in 2009 to resolve the dispute;<ref>{{cite web|author=espn |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/37163/time-for-mlb-to-let-the-as-move | title=Time for MLB to let the A's move |date=June 19, 2013 | access-date= August 21, 2014 }}</ref> however, despite years to find a resolution, the blue-ribbon panel completely failed to make any progress toward resolving the issue, leading San Jose to sue MLB. The lawsuit, which is currently ongoing, questions the league's anti-trust exemption and its ability to enforce particular clubs' geographic territories.<ref>{{cite web|author=cbs|url=http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2014/08/12/san-jose-gets-day-in-court-with-mlb-over-antitrust-claim-in-planned-as-move-athletics-sj-ballpark-anti-trust-court-federal-9th-circut-court-of-appeals/ | title = San Jose gets day in court with MLB over antitrust claim in planned A's move |date=August 12, 2014 | access-date= August 21, 2014 }}</ref> In addition, he blocked the sale of the Athletics in 1999 to an ownership group led by Bob Piccinini, then the CEO of [[Save Mart Supermarkets]],<ref>{{cite web|author=Ross Newhan|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-sep-19-sp-12111-story.html | title=Sale of A's Seems to Be Facing a Giant Roadblock |work=Los Angeles Times|date=September 19, 1999}}</ref> and [[Joe Lacob]], who would later purchase [[Golden State Warriors]], from purchasing the Athletics in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jon Becker|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/07/25/killing-lacobs-deal-to-buy-as-just-one-of-seligs-costly-decisions-for-as/ |work=San Jose Mercury| title=Killing Lacob's deal to buy A's just one of Selig's costly decisions for Oakland |date=July 25, 2022 | access-date= July 25, 2022}}</ref> Both potential ownership groups were committed to keeping the team in Oakland that would render this territorial dispute meaningless. Instead, Selig permitted only [[Lew Wolff]], his fraternity brother from college, and [[John J. Fisher]] to buy the team. The latter has since initiated the process to move the [[Oakland Athletics relocation to Las Vegas|Athletics from Oakland to Las Vegas]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/athletics/as-begin-relocation-application-process-with-mlb-2797859|title=A's begin relocation application process with MLB|last=Akers|first=Mick|work=Las Vegas Review-Journal|date=June 21, 2023}}</ref>