The Major League Baseball Players' Association(MLBPA), as it is called today, is not the first attempt to
unionize baseball players. Earlier attempts included, in 1885, The Brotherhood of Professional Baseball Players,
founded by John Montgomery Ward. Later, in 1900, it was The Players' Protective Association. In 1912, it was
The Fraternity of Professional Baseball Players of America. In 1922, Raymond Joseph Cannon founded The
National Baseball Players' Association of The United States.
The MLBPA, as we know it today, was founded in 1953. In 1966, Marvin Miller, from the United Steel Workers of America, was hired by the association to head the organization as its Executive Director. Miller
served in that office until 1983. During his tenure, the following changes were seen in Major League Baseball:
1968--The first collective bargaining agreement was negotiated with team owners. This resulted in an increase
in players' salaries from $6000 dollars a year to $10,000 dollars a year.
1970 Collective bargaining agreement--Arbitration was brought in to resolve disputes. Arbitration is still used in
resolving players' salary disputes at contract renewal time.
1972--The first players' strike witnessed by Major League Baseball. The strike was in opposition to the owners'
refusal to increase player pension funds.
1974--When owner Charlie Finley failed to deposit $50,000 into Catfish Hunter's insurance fund, the MLBPA took the matter to arbitration. The arbitrator agreed that Catfish Hunter should be allowed to file for free agency.
During Marvin Miller's time as Executive Director of the MLBPA, pensions, base salaries, revenues and licensing rights were increased. These actions helped in laying the groundwork for what is considered by most to be one of the strongest unions in the country. On June 22, 2009, Donald Fehr, the current Executive Director, announced that after a transition period he would step down. His successor was the union's legal counsel, Michael Weiner.
As mentioned in a previous blog, Major League Baseball is the only professional sports league in the United
States that does not have a salary cap.
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advice.david.mosher3993@my.sinclair.edu
I find it interesting that there is no salary cap in baseball. I can recall a few years back when people from Dayton said they did not want to drive to Cincy, pay for tickets, food and parking to see an overpaid mediocre team. Then the Dragons came along, and I have heard that it is almost impossible to get season tickets to them. I think it is hard to justify the big salaries especially when most families have to cut back in tihs tough economy.
ReplyDeleteIs that why some teams seem to have all the high profile players? Well, I'm not a big major league baseball fan, but I do know that money has not won a championship. The highest paid team is not in the playoffs, so why not put a cap in place to level the economic playing field? Perhaps, if a cap would have been in place the baseball team in Texas would not have had to file bankruptcy.
ReplyDelete