Federal League Baseball Club of Baltimore v. National League et al.

Posted by D. Daniel Sokol

Roger Ian Abrams, Northeastern University - School of Law has posted Federal League Baseball Club of Baltimore v. National League et al.

ABSTRACT: In Federal League Baseball Club of Baltimore v. National League (1922), the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Major League Baseball did not affect interstate commerce, an astounding decision even at the time. As a result, the restrictive baseball reserve system, which bound a ballplayer to his club for his entire work life at salary unilaterally determined by his employer, was held not cognizable under the federal antitrust laws. This chapter explains the origins of the decision in the economic battle between Organized Baseball and the rival Federal League and the arguments made by the parties in their briefs submitted to the Court. It then explores Justice Holmes’ decision which continues to remain the law, but only in the business of baseball.