Book Description

Major League Baseball is experiencing a period of distinct uncertainty. Average game attendance has fallen since the 1994 strike. Congress has called into question baseball's presumed antitrust exemption. Broadcast rights disputes for popular teams have created complications for fans. However, new stadium facilities and, more important, the renewed excitement brought to the game by shattered batting records and the blazing pitchers of the late 90's brought fans back. A strike was narrowly averted at the end of the 2002 season, a campaign that yielded one of the most exciting post-seasons yet, with the unlikely Anaheim Angels claiming the coveted World Series trophy.Beneath these encouraging developments deep problems persist within Major League Baseball. Though a labor agreement was finally reached between players and owners, the specter of another dispute looms in the minds of fans. The new agreement, while a positive step, introduces several perverse incentives and will only make a modest dent in baseball's economic deformities. While Commissioner Bud Selig's proposal to eliminate two under-performing franchises was put on hold, the Players Association has agreed not to challenge an owner effort to contract two teams before the 2007 season. Beyond that, Selig himself has become the object of controversy, as questions regarding his possible conflicts of interest and poor leadership taint his reign over baseball. Disputes surrounding the establishment of regional sports networks, such as New York's YES network, make it more difficult and expensive for fans to watch their favorite teams. Tough questions about baseball's presumed special antitrust status have been raised by many, including an official Congressional inquiry.This book explores the abuses and inefficiencies in the functioning of the baseball industry and how these problems are directly connected to Major League Baseball's monopoly status, its presumed exemption from antitrust regulation, and public policy. Andrew Zimbalist, a noted sports economist, spares no criticism for baseball's current leadership. He asserts that the biggest problem for baseball remains the economic realities of its monopolistic practices. The absence of competitive pressure has bred arrogance, laxity, and inefficiency in Major League Baseball, according to Zimbalist. Among other recommendations, he argues that lifting the presumed exemption would allow government and judicial oversight, with an eye toward ending the abuses.May the Best Team Win provides a solid, hard-hitting analysis of the current state of America's pastime. Easily accessible and highly informative, it is bound to become a standard reference tool for fans seeking a deeper understanding of the important issues