Rethinking Major League Baseball’s Antitrust Exemption

30 Journal of Legal Aspects of Sports 18 (2020)

University of Florida Levin College of Law Research Paper Forthcoming

23 Pages Posted: 6 Mar 2020

See all articles by Roger D. Blair

Roger D. Blair

University of Florida

Wenche Wang

University of Michigan at Ann Arbor

Date Written: 2020

Abstract

For nearly a century, Major League Baseball (MLB) has enjoyed antitrust immunity. No other sports league or organization is similarly exempt. Shielded by precedent from antitrust prosecution, MLB clubs are free to exploit both monopolistic and monopsonistic power. In this paper, we call for a repeal of MLB’s antitrust exemption. In doing so, we examine some recent antitrust challenges to MLB conduct, the current interest of the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission in labor market issues, the welfare consequences of the exemption, and a policy recommendation for legislative action.

Keywords: Major League Baseball, antitrust exemption, monopoly, monopsony

Suggested Citation

Blair, Roger D. and Wang, Wenche, Rethinking Major League Baseball’s Antitrust Exemption (2020). 30 Journal of Legal Aspects of Sports 18 (2020), University of Florida Levin College of Law Research Paper Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3548890 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3548890

Roger D. Blair (Contact Author)

University of Florida ( email )

342 Matherly Hall
Gainesville, FL 32611-7140
United States
352-392-0179 (Phone)
352-392-7860 (Fax)

Wenche Wang

University of Michigan at Ann Arbor ( email )

500 S. State Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
86
Abstract Views
487
Rank
527,705
PlumX Metrics