Budig Resigns As AL President

January 6, 2000 / 4:44 PM EST / AP

With his job about to become extinct, Gene Budig resigned as American League president Thursday and was appointed a senior adviser to baseball commissioner Bud Selig.

Budig's counterpart, Len Coleman, announced Sept. 15 that he was resigning as National League president, effective Oct. 31. Coleman also became a senior adviser to Selig.

Owners intend to disband the American and National leagues as legal entities later this month and consolidate their functions in the commissioner's office. Budig and Coleman have contracts running through December 2002 and will continue to be paid their $650,000 annual salaries.

Budig, a former chancellor at Kansas, will consult on matters involving government relations, ballpark construction, educational programs and charities.

After the Sept. 15 owners' meeting in Cooperstown, Selig originally said Budig was offered the job of senior vice president for educational and government affairs.

Owners intend to approve the abolition of the AL and NL when they meet Jan. 20 at Phoenix. The move will not affect the alignment of the leagues or their divisions, only their business affairs.