Kuhn dies at 80, remembered for his passion for the game

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Bowie Kuhn was remembered Tuesday as a fierce and passionate advocate for baseball, dedicated to charitable work and now secure in the “big Hall of Fame.”\nAmong the 300 mourners at Our Lady Star of the Sea were current commissioner Bud Selig, former American League president Lee MacPhail and former National League president Len Coleman.\nKuhn, who died Thursday at age 80, was baseball’s commissioner from 1969-84, a period of upheaval in the sport.\n“I think it is a crying shame that Bowie is not in the Hall of Fame. But he’s in the big Hall of Fame,” said former Detroit Tigers owner Tom Monaghan, who gave one of the two eulogies.\nAlso in attendance were Philadelphia Phillies owner Bill Giles, Houston Astros president Tal Smith, Atlanta Braves chairman emeritus Bill Bartholomay and Hall of Fame chairman Jane Forbes Clark.\nRachel Robinson, Jackie Robinson’s widow, and daughter Sharon Robinson was at the service. \nFormer Los Angeles Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley and former Montreal Expos president John McHale were pallbearers.\nMonaghan talked of Kuhn’s charity work, visiting AIDS patients and the elderly in hospitals and his support in building Legatus, a Catholic organization for business and civic leaders. Monaghan also spoke about Kuhn’s resolve.