After more than 50 years in baseball, including 17 as the Major League commissioner, Bud Selig will step down from his role after the 2012 season when the 75-year-old's contract expires, according to Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune.
Selig took over as MLB commissioner in 1992 when Fay Vincent was forced to resign. His contract was set to expire in 1999, but the deal was extended until 2012.
According to sources, five owners approached Selig in an attempt to persuade him to remain on the job, but it's reported that Selig wants to peruse other projects that include writing a book and/or teaching history.
A pair of Selig's assistants, Bob DuPuy and Rob Manfred, would be early top choices as his replacement, as would Baltimore Orioles general manager Andy MacPhail, according to Rogers.
