Changing of the Guard at the IBAF – Part I

Written by: Jerry Milani on 1st December 2009

Changing of the Guard at the IBAF - Part I | read this item

This coming weekend in Lausanne, Switzerland, the International Baseball Federation delegates will assemble to select a new Executive Board, and with it a new president for the organization, which governs baseball on a global level. Two international sports veterans, Italian Baseball Federation President Riccardo Fraccari and IBAF secretary general John Ostermeyer of Australia will be running to succeed outgoing IBAF president Dr. Harvey Schiller of the United States, who chose not to run for a second term. The winner will become the 16th president of the IBAF, which was formed in 1938. The 15 former presidents, all serving as volunteers, have hailed from eight countries, with the late Aldo Notari (president from 1993-2007) being the only IBAF president from Europe (Italy). There has never been an IBAF President from Asia or Oceania.

We took a few minutes for a Q&A with Dr. Schiller to look both back and ahead on baseball.

Here’s Part One of the interview:

BBD: You have had a two year run as IBAF President. How would you describe your experience?
HS: I think it was terrific and rewarding. I had been out of the international sports community for a while and was glad to be able to use my contacts to help grow the game and bring new partners into the sport. The progress we made to unify various entities within the sport, the progress we made with anti-doping initiatives, the Beijing Olympics, the World Baseball Classic and the Baseball World Cup were all very gratifying. It was also very impressive to see the passion that so many around the world have for the sport, whether it is at the federation or volunteer level or at the highest professional level. It is truly a global game and a sport for all.

wbc_2009_logo The biggest disappointment was the Olympic re-instatement bid, but even in that process I think we learned a great deal about how to grow the sport even without the Olympics. The Olympics may not want baseball, but baseball will always embody the Olympic ideal.

BBD: Why did you choose not to run again?
HS: I felt it is time to do something different. We made a great deal of progress in two very short years and I would like to stay involved, but the time commitment was pulling me away from other duties. Many people don’t realize it is a volunteer position with fulltime hours. I don’t regret a minute, but it is time to move on and help in other ways than as president.

BBD: Is there anything you would have done differently?
HS: I think with regard to the Olympics the approach we took was the right one. We did not waste money on consultants as other sports did, we spent money and time to grow the game and build awareness. I think the fact the President Rogge took the voting out of the hands of the delegates and into the hands of the Executive Committee changed everything, so perhaps making a longer and stronger push amongst the delegates to get the process changed would have helped, but all indications are that the die was cast. The cooperation of MLB and the Player’s Association with regard to top players was outstanding. MLB paid all costs and as a result almost no money from IBAF was used for the President’s office or expenses or the Olympic programme.

BBD: Do you think the governance of the sport today is in a better shape than it was when you came on board?
HS: I do think so, yes. The relationships with all the various governing entities in the sport, from MLB and the Japanese League to Little League and the Federations, are vastly improved and that is a tribute to our staff. I also believe the whole Olympic process gave baseball the opportunity to create healthy dialogue with many countries where the sport is now growing, and that sets the table for a brighter future.
ibaf_logo1
BBD: One of the biggest issues remains steroids. How do you think baseball is addressing the issue?
HS: I do not think baseball, whether it is the IBAF or MLB or the Player’s Union, gets enough credit for the leadership position the sport has taken with regard to anti-doping. Baseball has more in competition tests than any sport, has had very few positive tests of any kind in international competition, and is working very hard to continue to police itself. We are fully WADA compliant, and the fact that players do get caught is a sign that the system is working. The sport is as clean today as it has ever been and is cleaner than most if not all other sports. I think in time the facts will show that the steps baseball has taken will be landmark, and will set the standard for all international sports going forward.

BBD: Do you think the failure to return baseball to the Olympics was an anti-American statement by the IOC?
HS: I think if that is true it is very shortsighted, given the fact that baseball is the national pastime of many countries outside of the United States, and is now the largest sport in the world not on the Olympic programme. Our plan effectively addressed all the issues that were presented to us as to why baseball was removed from the Olympic programme, and as a result the game is stronger not just in the United States, but in places where is it now just taking hold. We are probably a victim of our own success more than anything. The IOC felt they wanted two new sports for the programme in rugby sevens and golf, and that’s what they pushed through to the membership.

for Part II of the interview with Dr. Schiller, click here

Topics: 16th President, Aldo Notari, baseball world cup, Beijing Olympics, Dr Harvey, Dr. Harvey Schiller, Europe Italy, Federation President, Former Presidents, Global Game, Global Level, IBAF, International, International Sports, Lausanne Switzerland, New Executive Board, New Partners, Ostermeyer, Riccardo Fraccari, Sports Community, world baseball classic

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