How Tony Clark Keeps Baseball’s Union Moving Forward

So Clark will keep moving toward what in his mind is a better game. Though his contract is up this year, it is expected to be extended when the union’s executive board meets in November.

“I don’t want to get too far out ahead of that,” said Gerrit Cole, the Yankees starter who is a member of the union’s executive subcommittee. “But I give him high marks for certainly the last go-around here.”

Adding Meyer and promoting Matt Nussbaum, the union’s general counsel, have helped, Cole said.

“Tony doesn’t need to be the lead negotiator,” Cole continued. “He just needs to be the leader of the union, and that’s creating solidarity, it’s informing the players, it’s a lot of tireless, thankless work. He’s been up to every challenge ever since we voted him in.”

For Clark, what once was not even a thought has turned into a mission.

“There’s a lot of work that still needs to be done, and there’s nothing more important to me than our fraternity, both active and inactive, and the next generation,” Clark said. “So being able to come on board and commit to protecting their interests and opportunities, I’m all in.”

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/12/sports/baseball/tony-clark-mlbpa-union.html