William Dole Eckert (January 20, 1909[2] – April 16, 1971) was a lieutenant general in the United States Air Force,[3] and later the fourth commissioner of Major League Baseball from 1965 to 1968.

Two months later he transferred to the United States Army Air Corps and was assigned to Selfridge Field, Michigan, for duty with the 36th Pursuit Squadron.

In April 1935, Eckert joined the 29th Pursuit Squadron at Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone, where he was stationed from 1935 to 1937.

Eckert was transferred to Air Force headquarters in June 1952 for duty as assistant deputy chief of staff for materiel.

In 1957, at the age of 48, Eckert was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general, making him the youngest three-star officer in the United States Armed Forces.

The club owners initially were unable to decide if the next commissioner should come from the ranks of the game (e.g., the president of the American or National Leagues), or elsewhere.

He only became a serious candidate for the commissionership after fellow officer Curtis LeMay gave Major League Baseball a recommendation for him.

By 1968, the owners anticipated a players' strike, and had long since lost confidence in Eckert's ability to handle the situation.

In spite of his much publicized failures and shortcomings, Eckert also developed more effective committee actions, streamlined business methods and helped stabilize franchises with bigger stadiums and long-term leases.

In addition, Eckert worked hard toward promoting the game internationally, including a 1966 tour of Japan by the Los Angeles Dodgers.