I would add Ball Four, or at least the introduction/first chapter, to the reading list as an illustration of what it used to be like. Jim Bouton was literally putting on his uniform at the beginning of his rookie year and they put a contract in front of him and said “Here’s your contract; you have to sign it before you go out there.” He went out and won 18 games and they tried to do the same thing the next year.
Ball Four is the whole world of the "old days" preserved in amber for us to marvel at. In the 1960s, Buzzie Bavasi of the Dodgers was full of contract shenanigans and liked to brag about them to the press. Sports Illustrated did several features. In one, Bavasi said, "So I'm a heel. Who'll remember I'm a heel if we win the pennant?"
53 years later I still find it mind-boggling that nothing was done in the AL East about the Tigers finishing 86-70 and being awarded the division championship over the 85-70 Red Sox.
It is kind of incredible. There should at least have been some provision to play another game should that situation arise, which OF COURSE it did. The 1972 strike really did decide a playoff race. I wanted to talk more about this but ran out of room, so I'm glad you mentioned it.
Given how MLB economics have evolved, it’s hard to imagine a real labor battle occurring in that business. But, it was a very different landscape back then. I remember talk from baseball announcers about offseason jobs players had back then - likely to make ends meet.
One of the reasons I find baseball's labor story so fascinating is it took players from one of the worst labor situations (in terms of rights and collective influence) to having one of the most powerful unions in the world. The contract Dick Allen signed for 1972 ($135,000) is the equivalent of just over a million dollars today. These days, a nine year player coming off a 5 WAR season would make what, ten times that amount on a one-year deal? More? The MLBPA has been--thus far--wildly successful in raising salary minimums and fending off salary caps.
I would add Ball Four, or at least the introduction/first chapter, to the reading list as an illustration of what it used to be like. Jim Bouton was literally putting on his uniform at the beginning of his rookie year and they put a contract in front of him and said “Here’s your contract; you have to sign it before you go out there.” He went out and won 18 games and they tried to do the same thing the next year.
Ball Four is the whole world of the "old days" preserved in amber for us to marvel at. In the 1960s, Buzzie Bavasi of the Dodgers was full of contract shenanigans and liked to brag about them to the press. Sports Illustrated did several features. In one, Bavasi said, "So I'm a heel. Who'll remember I'm a heel if we win the pennant?"
Can’t wait for #2.
Great article!!
53 years later I still find it mind-boggling that nothing was done in the AL East about the Tigers finishing 86-70 and being awarded the division championship over the 85-70 Red Sox.
It is kind of incredible. There should at least have been some provision to play another game should that situation arise, which OF COURSE it did. The 1972 strike really did decide a playoff race. I wanted to talk more about this but ran out of room, so I'm glad you mentioned it.
Given how MLB economics have evolved, it’s hard to imagine a real labor battle occurring in that business. But, it was a very different landscape back then. I remember talk from baseball announcers about offseason jobs players had back then - likely to make ends meet.
One of the reasons I find baseball's labor story so fascinating is it took players from one of the worst labor situations (in terms of rights and collective influence) to having one of the most powerful unions in the world. The contract Dick Allen signed for 1972 ($135,000) is the equivalent of just over a million dollars today. These days, a nine year player coming off a 5 WAR season would make what, ten times that amount on a one-year deal? More? The MLBPA has been--thus far--wildly successful in raising salary minimums and fending off salary caps.
Outstanding. I learned a lot.