Selig Testifies in Congress

Baseball's Rich Get Richer (No Surprise!)

Selig testifies on need to limit salaries, disparities between teams

Washington, D.C., December 9, 2000-- It is not who plays the game -- but who can pay for the game. There are three big name Major League Baseball (MLB) free agents this year, Alex Rodriguez, Mike Hampton and Manny Ramirez. And as of this date, only Hampton has signed. He will command a salary of over $15.37 million over his 8-year $123 million contract. The word free agency may be an oxymoron. There are very few teams that can ante up those salary demands. Alex Rodriguez could command as much as $250 million over the next ten years. Mike Mussina just signed a 6-year $88.5 million dollar contract with the New York Yankees. Next year, the Yankees payroll for the pitchers alone is $40 million dollars. That is more than the total for eight other MLB teams. The owners and league executives alike, feel this is the biggest problem facing the game.

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig testified before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Business Rights and Competition that there is enough owner support to fix the game's troubled economics. Selig expressed confidence he could convince Major League Baseball Players union (MLBPA) to accept the much dreaded salary restraints. Selig said in his testimony, "That 18-to 20 of the 30 teams will lose money this year". Selig proposed; there are revenue sharing measures
taking place. Coupled with a luxury tax, this is the framework of the Blue Ribbon report recently issued on the future of the game. However, one written lamented that "Selig offered no specifics on carrying through with his assurances, fans are frustrated on the increased competitive imbalance through economic disparity."

After watching the hearing, MLBPA Founder Marvin Miller said, " I wouldn't pay attention to anything Bud Selig says now more than I would pay attention to anything Mike Tyson would say two months before a fight."

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill have no plans to interfere in baseball' business at this time, but they will try to galvanize public opinion and compel owners and players to do what?s in baseball's best interests." Economist Andrew Zimbalist: "I don?t think the owners have the unity they need to for a work stoppage."

Marcus Leazer