Jerry Reinsdorf’s Role During MLB Lockout

Like the majority, of MLB owners, Jerry Reinsdorf has remained relatively quiet during the lockout. Reinsdorf has a reputation for being a labor hawk, especially after his fingerprints were all over the 1994-95 labor dispute. The players strike eventually led to the cancelation of the 1994 season a year in which the White Sox were in first place and boasted a World Series caliber team. 

Reinsdorf’s general cheapness also played a major role in dismantling the Chicago Bulls dynasty in the 1990s. His previous actions have left many fans to wonder what his role has been in the current MLB lockout. 

Jerry Reinsdorf Wants White Sox To Play

According to Cody Decker, the host of the Big Time Baseball podcast, Reinsdorf hasn’t been one of the holdouts disrupting the process. He was not among the four owners who opposed the MLB increasing the luxury tax to $220 million. The guilty culprits were Angels owner, Arte Moreno, Reds owners Bob Castellini, Chris Illitch of the Tigers, and Ken Kendrick of the Diamondbacks. 

Reinsdorf really wants the White Sox to play this season for multiple reasons. On paper, this is one of the most talented teams he has ever owned. He is managing a Collective Bargaining Tax payroll of $194 million so he is set to make a large profit this season. Reinsdorf also has his close friend Tony La Russa in the dugout. 

After La Russa was fired in 1986 many suspected that Reinsdorf felt guilty that his friend was let go. In 2021 he decided to bring La Russa out of retirement to manage his squad. It marked the first time in history someone that who has been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame has come out of retirement to manage. At the age of 77, La Russa’s window to win is limited so every season is precious. 

Unlike most owners, it seems that Jerry Reinsdorf has a love for baseball. He has expressed his love for the game on multiple occasions. Before the White Sox won a World Series in 2005 Reinsdorf said he would trade all his Bulls championship rings for one World Series ring. 

In 2012 he said, “Basketball is a game. Baseball is a religion. Baseball is American.” 

Despises Rob Manfred

Reinsdorf also despises Rob Manfred and was against his initial promotion to MLB commissioner. Manfred has served as a meat shield for the onwers druing this process however,fans and players alike agree that his tenure as commissioner has been a disaster.

Back in 2014, Michael Schmidt of the New York Times reported that Reinsdorf broke ranks from his fellow owners to oppose Manfred’s selection. Here is was Schmidt reported. 

“BUT AS MR. SELIG’S FINAL SEASON UNFOLDS, MR. MANFRED’S CANDIDACY IS MEETING TURBULENCE FROM AN UNEXPECTED ANTAGONIST: JERRY REINSDORF, THE 78-YEAR-OLD OWNER OF THE CHICAGO WHITE SOX AND LONG ONE OF MR. SELIG’S MOST LOYAL ALLIES IN THE GAME. MR. REINSDORF HAS BROKEN RANKS AND TRIED TO UPEND THE PLAN TO SLIDE MR. MANFRED INTO THE COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE ON PARK AVENUE, SEVERAL OWNERS SAY.

IN DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER OWNERS, MR. REINSDORF HAS RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT MR. SELIG’S TRANSPARENCY AS COMMISSIONER AND ARGUED THAT MR. SELIG SHOULD PLAY ONLY AN ADVISORY ROLE IN PICKING HIS SUCCESSOR. MR. REINSDORF ARGUED THAT, UNLIKE OWNERS WHO HAVE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INVESTED IN THEIR TEAMS, MR. SELIG HAS NO OWNERSHIP IN THE GAME AFTER HE RETIRES.”

At the end of the day, Jerry Reinsdorf is a shrewd businessman, not your average baseball fan. But it is safe to say he wants this lockout to end sooner rather than later.