Rumsey's creation of a players union was recognised when the PCA appointed him honorary life founder member and a vice-president.
Wisden noted that his "democratic views and wise counsel earned him much respect in the cricket world and among the players.
His moderation and tact helped in some tight corners, notably at the time of the Packer Affair, when he strove to keep the Cricketers' Association neutral.
He subsequently resigned the post following a majority decision by the membership to accept a donation from the Transvaal in apartheid-era South Africa.
[citation needed] In an article about the PCA originally published in the March 1979 issue of The Cricketer, Arlott wrote that Goldblatt was "invaluable as financial adviser".