"The Business of Baseball"

Is baseball really a business? I'm sure whenever the game was invented, and whoever it was invented by, intended it to be a sport and never would have believed in their wildest dreams that players' salaries and contract prices would be what they are today.  Although legend has it that the game was invented in 1839 by Abner Doubleday, this is difficult to imagine because in 1839 Doubleday was in military training at West Point Military Academy. There was also no mention of this in
his obituary published in the New York Times in 1893 when Doubleday died.

In 1934, while Joe DiMaggio was playing for the San Francisco Seals, he tore ligaments in his left knee while stepping out of a jitney for a dinner engagement at his sister's house. It almost ruined his career.  Although the Seals wanted to sell his
contract for $100,000,  he was acquired in November 1934 for $25,000 and five players. DiMaggio was allowed to play for the Seals through the 1935 season.

Let's jump ahead to the current century.  Since the Cincinnati Reds are the oldest organized professional baseball team,
I chose them to be represented here. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, Joe DiMaggio's contract was purchased
in 1934 for a meager $25,000 and five players. On January 10, 2010,  almost 76 years later,  the Cincinnati Reds purchased the contract of one Aroldis Chapman, a Cuban defector, and one of the stars of the 2009 World Port Tournament, for a six year term for the amount of $30.25 million. Although not one of the largest contract purchases in MLB history, it is a far cry
greater than the meager $25,000 given in 1934 for Joe DiMaggio.

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blog may not be construed as legal, medical, business or personal advice."The Business of Baseball"