Miller, Marvin Julian (1917– )

US economist and labour leader. In 1966 he was chosen executive director of the somewhat dormant Major Leagues Baseball Players' Association; with the club owners reluctantly going along, he set up collective bargaining procedures, helped to establish free agency and arbitration, and greatly increased salaries and pensions for the players. In 1972 he directed the first general strike in baseball history (resulting in 86 cancelled games) and again in 1981 he led a players' strike that lasted 59 days (713 games cancelled). He retired from the post in 1983, having led baseball players through the most expansive period in the history of the game.

Miller was born in New York City. He studied economics at Miami University in Ohio, graduating in 1938. During World War II he was an economist and disputes hearing officer for the Wage Stabilization Board. After working for the International Association of Machinists 1947–50 he went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to work for the United Steel Workers of America 1950–66, where he gained a national reputation for his intelligent negotiations between labour and management.