After 12 years in charge, Tony Clark, the longtime executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), resigned, leaving the players’ union in a state of uncertainty at a pivotal point in the history of the game, according to the New York Post.
Tuesday’s confirmation of Clark’s resignation comes as the MLBPA approaches the last year of its current collective bargaining agreement with Major League Baseball, and industry watchers are largely expecting a potential lockout following the 2026 season.
After an internal investigation turned up communications suggesting an inappropriate interaction with a union employee, Clark’s leadership came under additional criticism. Initially, rumors connected his departure to an ongoing federal investigation.
After retiring from professional baseball, 52-year-old Clark joined the MLBPA and worked his way up to become one of the most powerful people in North American sports labor relations. The union is currently dealing with imminent discussions and legal uncertainty as a result of his abrupt resignation.
Relationship alleged with sister-in-law
The New York Post and The Athletic have reported that Clark had an inappropriate connection with his sister-in-law, who worked for the MLBPA. According to reports, an internal investigation that examined conversations at work revealed the issue.
The players were briefed over the weekend, and Clark was notified of the results late last week. According to reports, the disclosures increased pressure on Clark to quit, and he did so early this week. The MLBPA and Clark have not responded to the accusations in a public statement.
The sister-in-law is who?
According to the accounts, the woman at the heart of them was a union worker who was married to Clark and had professional ties to him. Although she has not made her identify public, media sources state that the relationship caused severe ethical and power-related issues inside the players’ association.
Regarding her present job status, the MLBPA has not provided any comments.
Federal investigation and financial inquiries
Separately, the Eastern District of New York (EDNY) has been investigating claims of potential financial misappropriation associated with an MLBPA license arrangement. According to ESPN, the investigation has broadened to encompass possible obstruction-related issues.
According to Heather McPhee, a former attorney for the NFL Players Association, Clark and former NFLPA chairman Lloyd Howell tried to stifle a more thorough examination of a bonus plan associated with OneTeam, a licensing business that the MLBPA and Players Way jointly own.
Concerns have also been expressed regarding Players Way’s expenditure of nearly $10 million on a small number of poorly attended events, which is much more than the amounts previously revealed to ESPN.
Since then, the MLBPA has retained outside counsel, and lawyer Adam Braverman has briefed its eight-member executive subcommittee about the probe and any legal ramifications.
What will the MLBPA do next?
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, union officials met on Tuesday but did not name a temporary successor right away. There will soon be a vote to select a temporary executive director.
One of the top contenders is reportedly Bruce Meyer, the deputy executive director. Pitcher Brent Suter of the Los Angeles Angels, a member of the subcommittee, stated that the union is still stable and that an interim appointment would be soon.
Veteran athletes repeated such assurance. Marcus Semien, an infielder with the New York Mets, recognized the uncertainty but stated that current developments were better than information that would surface closer to the labor agreement’s December expiration. Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers also batted down worries, pointing out that Meyer has long been in charge of talks.
The history and wealth of Tony Clark
After a 15-year career in Major League Baseball, Clark joined the MLBPA in 2010 and served as executive director until Michael Weiner’s death in 2013. His brother, Greg Clark, a former collegiate basketball player, his wife Frances, and their son make up his family.
Clark made $3.41 million in 2024 and $3.25 million in 2023, according to public data. It is unknown how his resignation will impact the terms of the five-year contract he signed, which runs through 2027. He has not made his whole net worth—including his playing career earnings—publicly available.
