Is the MLB a monopoly hindering competition?

[the_tyrant]

Well as the Oakland A's are currently looking into the possibility of moving their team to San Jose. Apparently, San Jose is suing, because apparently, the fact that the A's aren't moving is due to a "conspiracy" against them.

http://www.baseballnation.com/2013/6...land-athletics

In my favorite coincidence (?) so far, the City of San José is filing a suit against Major League Baseball (.pdf), charging MLB with conspiracy against San José's efforts to attract the Oakland Athletics to a new ballpark. Here's what one Internet expert thinks:

And the MLB's response:
http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/2013/6/1...ics-giants-mlb

[Red October1984]

I've no complaints with the MLB.

I love baseball...of course, there will be only one team for me....the St. Louis Cardinals....and they better not move ANYWHERE!

[the_tyrant]

Originally Posted by Red October1984

I've no complaints with the MLB.

I love baseball...of course, there will be only one team for me....the St. Louis Cardinals....and they better not move ANYWHERE!

I envy you man, my local team is the Blue Jays, and they are pretty damned horrible. The Oakland A's are doing really well with what is practically a non-existent payroll (top in their division), whereas the Blue Jays have a really respectable payroll, yet are sill last in their division. They are behind the RAYS for heavens sake!

[vienna]

MLB is indeed a monopoly, but it is legally so; MLB has a special exemption to the antitrust statutes as bestowed on them by Congress. Interestingly, the NFL failed to ask for an antitrust exemption when it was formed and, as a result, had a lot of extreme legal problems involving teams moving from city to city, notably the Raiders and their Oakland-LA-Oakland moves. In response to their loss against the Raiders' move(s), the NFL actually sought to have an antitrust exemption passed, but they wanted it to be retroactive to a point prior to the Raiders' furst move and they lost in Congress...

<O>

[mookiemookie]

But the NFL did get themselves written into the tax code so that they are exempt from paying income tax.

Section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code provides for the exemption of business leagues, chambers of commerce, real estate boards, boards of trade and professional football leagues, which are not organized for profit and no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.

To say that the NFL is not organized for profit is stretching the regulation just a wee bit.

[Red October1984]

Originally Posted by the_tyrant

I envy you man, my local team is the Blue Jays, and they are pretty damned horrible. The Oakland A's are doing really well with what is practically a non-existent payroll (top in their division), whereas the Blue Jays have a really respectable payroll, yet are sill last in their division. They are behind the RAYS for heavens sake!

Hey buddy...Never too late to be a Cardinals fan.

Just for the love of god don't ever like the Cubs.

The Cards have fans all over the country... One should never be ashamed of their own team and still watch them. Mets fans....I'm looking at you.

[nikimcbee]

Speaking of baseball, we just got a local farm team here. This is their first series playing here.

http://www.milb.com/index.jsp?sid=t419

Taking the kids to their first baseball game tonight.

[Red October1984]

We have two teams near here. I've been to a little baseball camp thing with the Capahas but I've never been to a game of either team.

Plaza Tire Capahas

Southern Illinois Miners

Neither one is a Minor League team. We only have one MiLB team in Missouri I do believe. At AA Level the Springfield Cardinals. The nearest Cardinals Farm Team to me is in Memphis. The Memphis Redbirds. They're AAA.

And we have some non-affiliated teams in Missouri. Like the Capahas and the River City Rascals.