Checks and imbalances : competitive disparity in Major League Baseball / Scott Barzilla.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Barzilla, Scott.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Major League Baseball (Organization).

Baseball--United States--Management.

Baseball.

Baseball--Canada--Management.

Management.

Canada.

United States.

Physical Description:

viii, 195 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland & Co., [2002]

Summary:

Major League Baseball, like so many other professional sports, is not free of the unequal distribution of wealth, talent and other factors that allow for a continued David and Goliath scenario between the teams. The competitive balance between teams is a major factor in determining which teams will make it to the World Series and which will not. As more money for teams, higher salaries for players, longer seasons with many more games played, free agency, farm league training, and other aspects of the game developed, the issue of competitive balance has become more pronounced. This history covers competitive balance in Major League Baseball from 1900 through 1999. It is organized into four parts: statistics, dynasties, anti-dynasties, and factors of imbalance. The last part pays special attention to three primary factors: Cinderella status, player development, and economics. Several possible solutions to these problematic factors are analyzed and critiqued.

Contents:

Part 1 History of Competitive Balance

Part 2 Baseball's Dynasties

6. Dead Ball Dynasties 39

7. Babe Ruth Era Dynasties 51

8. Postwar Dynasties 61

9. Expansion Era Dynasties 72

10. Modern Era Dynasties 86

Part 3 Baseball's Anti-Dynasties

11. Dead Ball Anti-Dynasties 97

12. Babe Ruth Era Anti-Dynasties 110

13. Postwar Anti-Dynasties 125

14. Expansion Era Anti-Dynasties 136

15. Modern Era Anti-Dynasties 147

Part 4 Barriers to Balance

16. The Cinderella Factor 159

17. Player Development 169

18. Economics 179.

Notes:

Includes index.

ISBN:

0786412550

OCLC:

48811200