Former Candidate Schieffer Called to Save L.A. Dodgers

Tom Schieffer is back in the spotlight, this time as the guy who'll oversee day-to-day operations of the Los Angeles Dodgers on behalf of Major League Baseball, which seized control of the team last week.

Schieffer, a Fort Worth Democrat who declared and then withdrew from the race for the Democratic nomination for Texas governor last year, is the former general partner of the Texas Rangers. He's a former Texas House member, an attorney, and currently serves as senior counsel with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld.

"My life is a series of Forrest Gump appearances," he joked this afternoon after the announcement from MLB. "No telling what would have happened if the election had gone differently."

Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, citing "deep concerns" about the financial health of the Dodgers, stepped in last week and said he would appoint a trustee to oversee operations.

Schieffer's the guy he picked. "I love baseball, and baseball called," Schieffer said.

"The franchise is having some difficulties right now," he said. "It's a situation hopefully that we can deal with."

Schieffer said he doesn't know how long the assignment will last, but expects it will be a full-time job for the foreseeable future.