MLB union head dies from tumour
Michael Weiner, the plain-speaking, everpositive labour lawyer who took over as head of the powerful baseball players’ union four years ago and smoothed its perennially contentious relationship with management, died Thursday, 15 months after announcing he had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. He was 51. The Major League Baseball Players Association said Weiner died at his home in Mansfield Township, N.J. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without his expertise,” San Francisco Giants pitcher Jeremy Affeldt said in a text to The Associated Press. “We will all feel this loss of such a great man.” As Weiner’s health deteriorated this summer, a succession plan was put in place. Former big league all-star Tony Clark took over Thursday as acting executive director and is to be approved as Weiner’s successor when the union’s board meets from Dec. 2-5 at La Jolla, Calif.