Background

Archive-correction note: this BoB-sourced upload is the true June 2005 Update of the Major League Constitution, which had previously been confused in this archive with a later post-2005 amendment (the UNH IP Mall version, separately catalogued). The two are distinguishable by their respective Article I expiration dates: this BoB version says 'December 31, 2006'; the UNH version says 'December 31, 2012.' Two other significant differences: Section 3(e) player fine cap is $5,000 in this version vs. 'consistent with the then-current Basic Agreement' in the later UNH version; this version is a scanned PDF with 23 pages while the later UNH version is text-native with 20 pages. The June 2005 update was issued by the Office of the Commissioner during the Selig era, around the time of the Selig contract extension discussions; the duration through December 31, 2006 corresponds with the parallel 2002-2006 CBA cycle. The post-2005 amendment (UNH version, created ~March 2008) extended duration to December 31, 2012 and updated the player fine cap structure. This is the version operative during the steroid hearings (2005), the Mitchell Report era (2007 issuance), and the Madoff/Mets episode (initial 2008 disclosure). The $5,000 player fine cap is itself a notable detail — trivially low relative to player salaries, suggesting the actual disciplinary mechanism for players was always intended to operate through the CBA Article XII just-cause framework rather than the Constitution. The BoB description note ('Set to expire on: Dec. 31, 2006') is therefore accurate for this document; an earlier archive entry citing 'Dec. 31, 2012' as MLC Art. I was correct for the UNH version but mis-attributed in characterizing that document as the 'June 2005 update.'

Key provisions

• Article I — Formation and Duration of Constitution: 'shall remain in effect through December 31, 2006, except that the provisions of Article II, Section 3(g) shall expire at such time as the current Commissioner ceases to hold office.' (Pre-Selig-extension duration.)
• Article II, Sec. 1 — Office of the Commissioner of Baseball: unincorporated association doing business as MLB, with the 30 Clubs as members.
• Article II, Sec. 2 — Functions of the Commissioner: CEO of MLB; investigatory authority over conduct alleged not in the best interests of Baseball; rule-making for Commissioner-office procedures; appointment of League Presidents; on-field discipline; playing rule interpretations; game protests.
• Article II, Sec. 3 — Punitive Actions: (a) reprimand; (b) deprivation of Major League representation; (c) suspension or removal of owners/officers/employees; (d) ineligibility of player; (e) fine, not to exceed $2,000,000 for Clubs, $500,000 for owners/officers/employees, and not to exceed $5,000 in the case of a player; (f) loss of Major League Rules benefits including denial of player selection rights under Rules 4 and 5; (g) other actions as the Commissioner may deem appropriate.
• Article II, Sec. 4 — Limits on 'Best Interests' Power: Commissioner shall take no action in best interests of Baseball that requires Clubs to take/refrain from action on matters requiring Major League Meeting vote under Art. II Sec. 9 or Art. V Sec. 2(a)/(b); proviso: nothing in this section limits Commissioner authority on matters involving 'integrity of, or public confidence in, the national game of Baseball,' which integrity 'shall include without limitation the actions of the Commissioner, the ability of, and the public perception that, players and Clubs perform and compete at all times to the best of their abilities' and public confidence 'shall include without limitation the public perception, as determined by the Commissioner, that there is an appropriate level of long-term competitive balance among Clubs.'
• Article II, Sec. 5 — CBA carveout: Commissioner's best-interests power inapplicable to matters relating to collective bargaining process.
• Article II, Sec. 6 — Action against non-parties for conduct not in best interests of Baseball.
• Article II, Sec. 7 — Office Financing: Office of the Commissioner financed as Clubs determine; audited financials and proposed budgets submitted to Executive Council annually.
• Article II, Sec. 8 — Commissioner Term: minimum 3 years; eligible to succeed self; no diminution of compensation/powers during term.
• Article II, Sec. 9 — Election: by Major League Meeting and written ballot; three-fourths affirmative vote required; re-election requires majority.

Notable provisions

This Major League Constitution constitutes an agreement among the Major League Baseball Clubs, each of which shall be entitled to the benefits of and shall be bound by all the terms and provisions hereof, and it shall remain in effect through December 31, 2006, except that the provisions of Article II, Section 3(g) shall expire at such time as the current Commissioner ceases to hold office.— MLC Art. I (June 2005 Update)

a reprimand; (b) deprivation of a Major League Club of representation in Major League Meetings; (c) suspension or removal of any owner, officer or employee of a Major League Club; (d) temporary or permanent ineligibility of a player; (e) a fine, not to exceed $2,000,000 in the case of a Major League Club, not to exceed $500,000 in the case of an owner, officer or employee, and not to exceed $5,000 in the case of a player; (f) loss of the benefit of any or all of the Major League Rules, including but not limited to the denial or transfer of player selection rights provided by Major League Rules 4 and 5; and (g) such other actions as the Commissioner may deem appropriate.— MLC Art. II, Sec. 3 (June 2005 Update)

Public confidence shall include without limitation the public perception, as determined by the Commissioner, that there is an appropriate level of long-term competitive balance among Clubs.— MLC Art. II, Sec. 4 (June 2005 Update)

Further context

Major League Constitution — True June 2005 Update

The actual June 2005 Update of the MLB Constitution — sourced from the Wayback Machine snapshot of businessofbaseball.com. Distinct from a later post-2005 amendment previously held in this archive from the UNH IP Mall (a separate document with extended duration through 2012 and revised player fine structure).

Why we now have two Constitution documents

The supersession chain is:

1. This document (June 2005 Update, expires Dec 31 2006, $5K player fine cap) — sourced from businessofbaseball.com via Wayback.
2. Post-2005 amendment (expires Dec 31 2012, player fine "consistent with CBA") — sourced from UNH IP Mall, PDF created March 2008, see 2008-03_constitution_mlb-constitution-post-2005-amendment.md for the entry that should be re-labeled as the post-2005 amendment.
3. AP-uploaded version on DocumentCloud (per Alex: runs through 2018) — not yet retrieved this session.
4. Current operative Constitution — not public.

Key differences from later versions

Why this matters

This is the version operative during the 2005 steroid hearings, the Mitchell Report era, and the early Selig contract extension. The $5,000 player fine cap is itself a notable detail — trivially low relative to player salaries, confirming that disciplinary mechanics for players run through CBA Article XII just-cause, not the Constitution.

Related documents in the archive

• 2008-03_constitution_mlb-constitution-post-2005-amendment.md — the later (post-2005) amendment that previously occupied this slot. Should be re-titled to reflect its actual status.

Related documents

Superseded by

MLB Constitution (post-2005 amendment)

Related documents

MLB Constitution (post-2005 amendment)

Source provenance

• Primary source
• Wayback Machine archive