Ricci G. (goldie61) reviewed on 10/13/2012 + 39 more book reviews

Great book on the business of baseball and the men who run the teams. Covers the rise of baseball union and their efforts to win greater wages and benefits for the players. Once started, this effort gained tremendous momentum in the mid-70's and ballplayer salaries began to skyrocket. Yes, the book ends in November 1994, but you pretty much know the story going forward to the present.

This is not a pro-union book per se, but it definately does not paint the baseball owners and General Managers in a shining light. These are businessmen resistant to change, skinflints and worse. Their collective greed killed the golden goose, one of the few protected monopolies, which was followed by reckless spending when the cows (and good sense) left the barn. The system they created, nurtured and protected religiously changed radically and not for the better.

The book is well researched and provides an insider's vantage point to the change from sport to business. Baseball fans desiring to learn about the evolution of the game off the field will find this to be a great read.

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