LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Robert D. Manfred, Jr. upon the occasion
of being named the 10th Commissioner of Major League Baseball

WHEREAS, It is with great pride that this Legislative Body commends
those professionals who represent the State of New York and bring honor
to the game of baseball, distinguishing themselves through notable
achievement and thereby representing this great Empire State with excep-
tional pride and determination; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Robert D.
Manfred, Jr. upon the occasion of being named the 10th Commissioner of
Major League Baseball; and
WHEREAS, Robert D. Manfred, Jr., a native of Rome, New York, was
elected as the 10th Commissioner in the history of Major League Baseball
(MLB) on August 14, 2014, by a unanimous vote of the 30 Major League
Clubs; he officially became the sport's leader on January 25, 2015; and
WHEREAS, Prior to his selection for this esteemed position, Robert D.
Manfred, Jr. served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Major League
Baseball; during this time he managed the Commissioner's Office in New
York, worked closely with Club ownership and management executives, and
addressed a variety of the industry's economic, governance and policy
issues; and
WHEREAS, As COO, Robert D. Manfred, Jr. also oversaw labor relations,
baseball operations, baseball development, finance, administration and
other key areas; and
WHEREAS, Before becoming COO, Robert D. Manfred, Jr. served as MLBls
Executive Vice President for Economics and League Affairs, where he
reported directly to the Commissioner and was responsible for major
economic matters, as well as franchise-specific matters involving the 30
Major League Clubs; and
WHEREAS, From 1998 to 2012, Robert D. Manfred, Jr. was Executive Vice
President for Labor Relations and Human Resources; in both capacities,
he directed all issues related to collective bargaining with the Major
League Baseball Players Association, including the successful renewals
of the Basic Agreement in 2002, 2006 and 2011; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, those agreements helped realize the then Commis-
sioner's vision of competitive balance and club financial stability
through reforms such as increased revenue sharing, more aggressive
payroll taxes, reform of the amateur talent acquisition process and
strict debt regulation; and
WHEREAS, Under the luminous direction of Robert D. Manfred, Jr., the
2002 labor pact was the first in more than 30 years to be settled
between the two parties without incurring a work stoppage; Major League
Baseball is currently in the midst of a period of at least 21 consec-
utive years of labor peace, a stretch that is unprecedented in the
sport's history; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his illustrious tenure, Robert D. Manfred, Jr.
also represented MLB on all upgrades to the game's Joint Drug Prevention
and Treatment Program, which stands as the toughest and most comprehen-
sive in American professional sports; and
WHEREAS, Robert D. Manfred, Jr. is a 1980 graduate of the School of
Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University; three years later,
he received his law degree magna cum laude from Harvard Law School where
he was an articles editor of the HARVARD LAW REVIEW; and
WHEREAS, Active in several professional organizations, Robert D.
Manfred, Jr. is a member of the Labor Section of the American Bar Asso-
ciation, the Massachusetts and District of Columbia Bar Associations and
the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers; he also served as a member

of the Board of Directors of the Sports Lawyers Association and the
Partnership for Clean Competition; and
WHEREAS, Robert D. Manfred, Jr. has been the proud recipient of numer-
ous awards and accolades including being named Labor Counsel of the Year
in 2008 by the Association of Media and Entertainment Counsel; he was
also awarded an honorary degree by Le Moyne College in 2010; and
WHEREAS, In addition, as part of a new category in the Rome Sports
Hall of Fame, Robert D. Manfred, Jr. will be honored as a contributor,
someone who has made long term, meaningful and substantive contributions
which resulted in the furtherance of sports and athletics; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body, representing the people of the State
of New York, is pleased to bestow upon Robert D. Manfred, Jr., its high-
est commendation after earning the highest position in Major League
Baseball; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Robert D. Manfred, Jr. upon the occasion of being named the 10th
Commissioner of Major League Baseball; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Robert D. Manfred, Jr.