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Professional baseball

Baseball Fans Unite Against Strike

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As the Major League Baseball strike enters its seventh day, a growing movement of frustrated fans is springing up across the country, determined to bring an end to the labor dispute. With protesters banding together under names like Strike Back, Sports Fans United, and Fed Up, they are filing lawsuits, serving notice to the federal government, and pushing Congress to repeal the 1922 Supreme Court decision that exempts baseball from anti-trust laws.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Major League Baseball strike, now in its seventh day, has sparked a wave of fan protests and lawsuits across the country, with groups like Strike Back, Sports Fans United, and Fed Up taking a stand against the strike.
  • The fans are protesting the owners' insistence on a salary cap, which they see as a breach of contract and an attempt to strangle the game.
  • Sports Fans United has served notice to Congress, demanding that lawmakers repeal the 1922 Supreme Court decision that exempts baseball from anti-trust laws, which allows the league to operate as an unregulated monopoly.
  • The fans are using history to their advantage, pointing to the impact of similar campaigns in 1985, when the group Strike Back collected nearly 100,000 letters from fans threatening to boycott games.
  • John Sawyer, co-founder of Strike Back, credits the group's success in 1985 to its ability to position itself as a unifying force for frustrated fans, allowing them to mobilize and express their anger collectively.
  • Despite the growing movement, fans are skeptical about the potential for change, with Sawyer noting that the fact that there is no commissioner in place has created a power vacuum that will make it difficult to negotiate a resolution to the strike.

Statistics:

  • The Major League Baseball strike has now lasted for 7 days, with no negotiations scheduled between players and owners.
  • Over 10 members of the group Fed Up have filed a lawsuit against the Atlanta Braves, arguing that the team broke its contract by not providing a full season of play.
  • Sports Fans United has served notice to 535 members of Congress, demanding that they repeal the 1922 Supreme Court decision that exempts baseball from anti-trust laws.
  • In 1985, the group Strike Back collected nearly 100,000 letters from fans threatening to boycott games.
  • Domino's Pizza has partnered with Strike Back in the New York area, offering one free topping for fans who sign the pledge to boycott baseball games.

Sources:

  • [Tom Goldman, NPR]
  • [Adam Colton, Sports Fans United]
  • [John Sawyer, Strike Back]
  • [Unknown publication, unspecified date]

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