Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. ? Bowie Kuhn was remembered Tuesday as a fierce and passionate advocate for baseball, dedicated to charitable work and now secure in the “big Hall of Fame.”

Among the 300 mourners at Our Lady Star of the Sea were current commissioner Bud Selig, former American League president Lee MacPhail and former National League president Len Coleman.

Kuhn, who died Thursday at age 80, was baseball’s commissioner from 1969-84, a period of upheaval in the sport.

“I think it is a crying shame that Bowie is not in the Hall of Fame. But he’s in the big Hall of Fame,” said former Detroit Tigers owner Tom Monaghan, who gave one of the two eulogies.

Also in attendance were Philadelphia Phillies owner Bill Giles, Houston Astros president Tal Smith, Atlanta Braves chairman emeritus Bill Bartholomay and Hall of Fame chairman Jane Forbes Clark.

Rachel Robinson, Jackie Robinson’s widow, and daughter Sharon Robinson were at the service. Former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley and former Montreal Expos president John McHale were pallbearers.

Monaghan talked of Kuhn’s charity work, visiting AIDS patients and the elderly in hospitals and his support in building Legatus, a Catholic organization for business and civic leaders. Monaghan also spoke about Kuhn’s resolve.

“Bowie would stand up to these owners when he thought they were attacking the integrity of baseball,” Monaghan said.