Dodgers statement on passing of MLBPA head Michael Weiner

The Major League Baseball Players Association lost executive director Michael Weiner on Thursday, after a 15-month battle with brain cancer. Weiner was 51.

Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten released a statement about Weiner's passing.

"I am deeply saddened by the passing of Michael Weiner, with whom I had the pleasure of working for many years," Kasten said. "I had so much respect for him and admired his leadership of the players and Players Association. He was truly a great individual, a brilliant lawyer and a thoroughly decent person. All of baseball, labor and management, has suffered a great loss. Michael was always viewed as the path to a reasonable resolution. He will be missed. The Dodgers and I send our deepest condolences to Michael's family."

MLB commissioner Bud Selig also issued a statement regarding Weiner, who led the MLBPA since December 2009.

"All of Major League Baseball mourns the loss of Michael Weiner, a gentleman, a family man, and an extraordinarily talented professional who earned the trust of his membership and his peers throughout the national pastime. Our strong professional relationship was built on a foundation of respect and a shared commitment to finding fair solutions for our industry. I appreciated Michael’s tireless, thoughtful leadership of the Players and his pivotal role in the prosperous state of Baseball today.

"Michael was a courageous human being, and the final year of his remarkable life inspired so many people in our profession. On behalf of Major League Baseball and our 30 Clubs, I extend my deepest condolences to Michael’s wife Diane, their three daughters, his colleagues at the MLBPA and his many friends and admirers throughout the game he served with excellence."