March 15 (Bloomberg) -- Bowie Kuhn, the former commissioner of Major League Baseball who endured five work stoppages during his 15-year tenure, died at the age of 80.

Kuhn died at St. Luke's Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, said his spokesman Bob Wirz, who served as Kuhn's director of information for 10 years.

Kuhn was elected as the sport's fifth commissioner in 1969 by a unanimous vote by the owners and held the office for 15 years. He was baseball's top official during the first strike by the players union in 1972 and led the first lockout by owners a year later. Five of the sport's eight work stoppages took place under Kuhn's watch, with players union leader Marvin Miller opposite him in negotiations.

``He had a remarkably good sense of humor, and it played an important role,'' said Miller, who led the players union from 1966-1983. ``When the tension was greatest, he did have a marvelous way of finding something funny in the situation, which took the strain out of it.''

Kuhn and Miller were on opposite sides of arguments over player compensation, free agency and pension. Players won increases in salary, with the average rising from about $25,000 when Kuhn took office to $330,000 when he left. They also won the right to become free agents and sign contracts with any team.

`Change, Controversy'

``He led our game through a great deal of change and controversy,'' Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. ``Yet, Bowie laid the groundwork for the success we enjoy today.''

Selig credited Kuhn with staging World Series games at night for the first time and increasing the sport's television exposure. Kuhn also was the commissioner when the designated hitter was added in 1973.

Selig directed clubs to observe a moment of silence and fly flags at half-staff to honor Kuhn.

Kuhn battled against players trying to win free agency. In 1969, St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Curt Flood refused to report to the Philadelphia Phillies and asked the commissioner to allow him to negotiate a contract with any team. Kuhn refused, and Flood sued Kuhn and Major League Baseball. The case went the U.S. Supreme Court where the judges ruled in favor of baseball.

Players eventually won the right to become free agents in 1976 when a federal judge ruled on their behalf.

``I was saddened to learn late this afternoon of former Commissioner Kuhn's passing,'' current players union chief Don Fehr said in a statement. ``A lifelong fan of baseball, Bowie dedicated many of his best years to the game.''

Bowie Kent Kuhn was born in Takoma Park, Maryland, on Oct. 28, 1926. He graduated from Princeton University in 1945 and earned his law degree from the University of Virginia in 1950. Kuhn joined the New York law firm Willke, Farr & Gallagher where he worked on baseball's legal affairs for 19 years.

Kuhn was chairman of the Catholic Advisory Board, which oversees the Ave Maria Mutual Funds. The funds select investments it considers to be ethical. Thomas S. Monaghan, Domino's Pizza Inc. founder and former owner of the Detroit Tigers also serves on the board.

Kuhn is survived by his wife, Luisa, and four children, Wirz said. There was no immediate word on funeral services.

To contact the reporter on this story: Danielle Sessa in New York at dsessa@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: March 15, 2007 18:40 EDT