Early Life and Career

Budig graduated from the University of Nebraska. Budig served as president of Illinois State University from 1973-1977 and of West Virginia University from 1977-1980 and was the chancellor of the University of Kansas from 1980-1994. A lecture hall at KU, Budig Hall, is named in his honor. Active in the Air National Guard, Budig retired at the rank of Major General in 1992.

Baseball

On June 8, 1994, Budig was named President of the American League. He served in that role for six seasons, before the position was officially abolished. In that role, Budig presented then-Yankee owner George Steinbrenner with the Commissioner's Trophy after the Yankees won the first World Series to be telecast by Fox in 1996, 4 games to 2. The trophy presentation was made in the Yankees' locker room at Yankee Stadium following Game 6. He also presented the trophy to the Yankees following their victories in 1998 and 1999. The position was abolished when Commissioner Bud Selig restructured Major League Baseball and eliminated the offices of American and National League President.

In January 2007, Budig became part-owner of the Charleston RiverDogs, a minor-league affiliate of the New York Yankees who play in the South Atlantic League.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]