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Baseball's Power Shift: How the Players Union, the Fans, and the Media Changed American Sports Culture
From Major League Baseball’s inception in the 1880s through World War II, team owners enjoyed monopolistic control of the industry. Despite the players’ desire to form a viable union, every attempt to do so failed. The labor consciousness of baseball players lagged behind that of workers in other industries, and the public was largely in the dark about labor practices in baseball. In the mid-1960s, star players Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale staged a joint holdout for multiyear contracts and much higher salaries. Their holdout quickly drew support from the public; for the first time, owners realized they could ill afford to alienate fans, their primary source of revenue.
Baseball’s Power Shift chronicles the growth and development of the union movement in Major League Baseball and the key role of the press and public opinion in the players’ successes and failures in labor-management relations. Swanson focuses on the most turbulent years, 1966 to 1981, which saw the birth of the Major League Baseball Players Association as well as three strikes, two lockouts, Curt Flood’s challenge to the reserve clause in the Supreme Court, and the emergence of full free agency. To defeat the owners, the players’ union needed support from the press, and perhaps more importantly, the public. With the public on their side, the players ushered in a new era in professional sports when salaries skyrocketed and fans began to care as much about the business dealings of their favorite team as they do about wins and losses.
Swanson shows how fans and the media became key players in baseball's labor wars and paved the way for the explosive growth in the American sports economy.
Baseball’s Power Shift chronicles the growth and development of the union movement in Major League Baseball and the key role of the press and public opinion in the players’ successes and failures in labor-management relations. Swanson focuses on the most turbulent years, 1966 to 1981, which saw the birth of the Major League Baseball Players Association as well as three strikes, two lockouts, Curt Flood’s challenge to the reserve clause in the Supreme Court, and the emergence of full free agency. To defeat the owners, the players’ union needed support from the press, and perhaps more importantly, the public. With the public on their side, the players ushered in a new era in professional sports when salaries skyrocketed and fans began to care as much about the business dealings of their favorite team as they do about wins and losses.
Swanson shows how fans and the media became key players in baseball's labor wars and paved the way for the explosive growth in the American sports economy.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published March 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 21, 2016
When baseball fans read about labor issues between the owners and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), some may lament about wanting the “good old days” when there was no talk of salary caps, free agency and competitive balance. This excellent book by Krister Swanson dispels that notion as there has been a long history of labor strife in the game that dates back to the nineteenth century.
The book covers the time frame from the first attempts by the players to unionize in the 1890’s to the player’s strike in 1981 that wiped out approximately one-third of the season. The topic is not as much the history of the issues and negotiations as it is about the manner in which both the owners (whom Swanson calls “magnates” throughout the book) and the players plead their case to the media and fans. tide shifted in the century covered in the book from the magnates holding all the power to the MLBPA becoming one of the most powerful unions in America.
Swanson writes in a style that is informative but very easy to read. The chapters on the working conditions before 1964 when the reserve clause was in effect and attempts to unionize such as the Brotherhood in the 1890’s and later a Fraternity in the early twentieth century (note the language here where Swanson does not call these “unions”). However, the best reading and research comes after Marvin Miller is named the executive director of the MLPBPA in 1964. It is here that many interesting details over the magnate’s attempts to save the reserve clause and not share television revenue are revealed. The union’s position and press relations are covered as well.
While reading the book, it felt that Swanson was covering both sides of all these issues in a fair manner. If there was any leaning toward one side or the other, it may have been critical toward the magnates but if it was, it was because their arguments over the issues never changed, no matter the era. Swanson repeats that fact frequently as well as illustrating how they would use these points to win over the views of the fans. That, just like the reserve clause, would eventually fail.
If a reader is interested in the history of labor relations or the business side of baseball, this is a book that he or she must read. It is one that certainly belongs on the shelf of that reader’s bookshelf.
I wish to thank University of Nebraska Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...
The book covers the time frame from the first attempts by the players to unionize in the 1890’s to the player’s strike in 1981 that wiped out approximately one-third of the season. The topic is not as much the history of the issues and negotiations as it is about the manner in which both the owners (whom Swanson calls “magnates” throughout the book) and the players plead their case to the media and fans. tide shifted in the century covered in the book from the magnates holding all the power to the MLBPA becoming one of the most powerful unions in America.
Swanson writes in a style that is informative but very easy to read. The chapters on the working conditions before 1964 when the reserve clause was in effect and attempts to unionize such as the Brotherhood in the 1890’s and later a Fraternity in the early twentieth century (note the language here where Swanson does not call these “unions”). However, the best reading and research comes after Marvin Miller is named the executive director of the MLPBPA in 1964. It is here that many interesting details over the magnate’s attempts to save the reserve clause and not share television revenue are revealed. The union’s position and press relations are covered as well.
While reading the book, it felt that Swanson was covering both sides of all these issues in a fair manner. If there was any leaning toward one side or the other, it may have been critical toward the magnates but if it was, it was because their arguments over the issues never changed, no matter the era. Swanson repeats that fact frequently as well as illustrating how they would use these points to win over the views of the fans. That, just like the reserve clause, would eventually fail.
If a reader is interested in the history of labor relations or the business side of baseball, this is a book that he or she must read. It is one that certainly belongs on the shelf of that reader’s bookshelf.
I wish to thank University of Nebraska Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...
November 18, 2025
A timely read with a potential labor strike in Major League Baseball looming in 2027. The author follows the development of labor relations in baseball from late 1800s when there were still competing baseball organizations to the 1981 strike and as a whole was well-researched. I found the early days, when the future of baseball was more tenuous, MLB antitrust protection didn’t exist, and the labor movement as a whole in this country wasn’t fully developed. Not sure if that lies more in my fascination with baseball of that time period, as it’s less often discussed, or more about labor at that time in general, as I really enjoyed Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle” from that era.
The author seems to be much more on the players’ side, which, biases or not, was somewhat explained in the epilogue(?) where it was mentioned that much more information regarding the players is available as opposed to owners at that time period. Much of those files are restricted and locked away.
It’s interesting to see how public opinion is so valuable in changing labor standards and the progress of player rights had to be gradual enough for the public to have time to understand it and accept it. To that point, the opinions of the newspaper men was shown more and more as the book progressed, which is likely somewhat due to the more writings available the closer we get to modern day and the press’s growing investment in the business dealings of the sport.
The author seems to be much more on the players’ side, which, biases or not, was somewhat explained in the epilogue(?) where it was mentioned that much more information regarding the players is available as opposed to owners at that time period. Much of those files are restricted and locked away.
It’s interesting to see how public opinion is so valuable in changing labor standards and the progress of player rights had to be gradual enough for the public to have time to understand it and accept it. To that point, the opinions of the newspaper men was shown more and more as the book progressed, which is likely somewhat due to the more writings available the closer we get to modern day and the press’s growing investment in the business dealings of the sport.
March 30, 2020
This is a well researched and well written account of a century of attempts by players to wrestle better working conditions and compensation from team owners and to abolish the 'reserve clause' that bound each player to his club for life.
For those with an interest in either baseball or organised labour then I'd recommend this book, it gives valuable insight on both the internal machinations of the players union (the MLBPA) and to a lesser extent the owners side and how it all played out in the court of public opinion.
I wouldn't generally recommend this book if you're not interested in either of those things but will say if you ever wanted a teaching case on what can be achieved through collective action and unionisation then the MLBPA is a great example as it shows how in little over a decade the players won numerous concessions from almost comically duplicitous (at times bordering on mustache-twirling robber baron) management through solidarity across the board, from the rookie player to the highest paid stars under the effective leadership of a well trained union leader, the indefatigable Marvin Miller.
For those with an interest in either baseball or organised labour then I'd recommend this book, it gives valuable insight on both the internal machinations of the players union (the MLBPA) and to a lesser extent the owners side and how it all played out in the court of public opinion.
I wouldn't generally recommend this book if you're not interested in either of those things but will say if you ever wanted a teaching case on what can be achieved through collective action and unionisation then the MLBPA is a great example as it shows how in little over a decade the players won numerous concessions from almost comically duplicitous (at times bordering on mustache-twirling robber baron) management through solidarity across the board, from the rookie player to the highest paid stars under the effective leadership of a well trained union leader, the indefatigable Marvin Miller.
January 12, 2018
I was somewhat disappointed by this book. While it did cover the history of labor problems in baseball fairly thoroughly through 1981, since it didn't cover anything after that, it wasn't the book it could have been. There were at least three glaring errors in the book. He referenced the Cleveland Indians in the 1880s. He meant the Cleveland Spiders. He said Tom Seaver was with the Reds in 1976 when he didn't join them untill 1977. At the end of the book he said Bob Feller's team was the Braves, not the Indians. If you're looking for a better book, thr Lords of the Realm.
April 19, 2025
Overall, a pretty good history of the early years of the MLBPA and some older unionization efforts. I really did like the rhetorical analysis and sentiment analysis Swanson did to show how the views of owners v player support changed throughout the years.
I will be interested to read a similar book that went beyond the 1980 strike, especially with how post-Regan politics affected the views of the baseball union.
I will be interested to read a similar book that went beyond the 1980 strike, especially with how post-Regan politics affected the views of the baseball union.
March 7, 2020
Informative but could've continued
I enjoyed it quite a bit, and learned a ton about both the pre-MLBPA unionization attempts and Marvin Miller's beginnings in baseball, but it ends much more abruptly than I anticipated after a brief discussion of the '81 strike. I wish the narrative Swanson told would've been extended into the 80s and to the '94 strike.
I enjoyed it quite a bit, and learned a ton about both the pre-MLBPA unionization attempts and Marvin Miller's beginnings in baseball, but it ends much more abruptly than I anticipated after a brief discussion of the '81 strike. I wish the narrative Swanson told would've been extended into the 80s and to the '94 strike.
December 27, 2021
3.5/5 stars. Detailed history on the relationship between labor and management in professional baseball going all the way back to the 1800s. Could have used some more color, stories, etc. for a more entertaining read but still a decent book.
February 27, 2017
Authored by a high school history teacher, this is one of the most insightful baseball books I've read. A comprehensive and well-written history of labor in baseball, centering around Curt Flood in 1969 and the subsequent push for free agency. Particularly recommended for the younger-ish crowd (I'm 27). The favorite of my offseason reading.
August 30, 2016
I wasn't real crazy about this book, but I can't put my finger on exactly why. The first 94 pages cover the various attempts at organization from the beginning of baseball through about 1960. This history seemed kind of disconnected. If I wasn't already familiar with the general (baseball) history of this era, I would have felt somewhat lost and needing more context.
The meat of the book is the Marvin Miller era from when he entered the scene through 1981. This covers the struggles with regard to free agency. The reader gets a lot of detail about that era but in kind of a dry way.
Swanson treats fan reaction to baseball's work stoppages more favorably toward the players than is my own memory of the time. We get the perspective of the players, owners, league and union officials, and select sportswriters, but not much from sportscasters or from the fans themselves. The book just seems a little too rah-rah for the ultimate outcome.
The lockout of 1990 and strikes of 1985 and 1994-95 aren't covered at all, maybe because those actions related to compensation and arbitration issues, not to free agency directly.
An interesting tidbit: I can't find the exact figure in the book right now, but in 1967 (or some year close to that) the ENTIRE player payroll for MLB was something like $11.6 million. (It was 11-point-something million. Again, I can't locate the exact text. Too bad I didn't read this on a Kindle!) To me, that's just astounding. You can't acquire a single marquee player for $11.6 million today, but that bought the services of ALL the players 50-ish years ago. The players really were taken advantage of up until that time.
A pretty glaring error occurs on page 255: "Fans still needed their heroes to play for the love of the game, ... even if that hometown squad ... had traveled from Boston to Milwaukee to Atlanta, as was the case for [Bob] Feller's own team, the Braves." Of course, Hall of Famer Bob Feller was a Cleveland Indian, as is noted higher on the same page 255.
In conclusion, I have read a number of baseball books over the years. I got good information from this book but it became somewhat of a chore to finish it.
The meat of the book is the Marvin Miller era from when he entered the scene through 1981. This covers the struggles with regard to free agency. The reader gets a lot of detail about that era but in kind of a dry way.
Swanson treats fan reaction to baseball's work stoppages more favorably toward the players than is my own memory of the time. We get the perspective of the players, owners, league and union officials, and select sportswriters, but not much from sportscasters or from the fans themselves. The book just seems a little too rah-rah for the ultimate outcome.
The lockout of 1990 and strikes of 1985 and 1994-95 aren't covered at all, maybe because those actions related to compensation and arbitration issues, not to free agency directly.
An interesting tidbit: I can't find the exact figure in the book right now, but in 1967 (or some year close to that) the ENTIRE player payroll for MLB was something like $11.6 million. (It was 11-point-something million. Again, I can't locate the exact text. Too bad I didn't read this on a Kindle!) To me, that's just astounding. You can't acquire a single marquee player for $11.6 million today, but that bought the services of ALL the players 50-ish years ago. The players really were taken advantage of up until that time.
A pretty glaring error occurs on page 255: "Fans still needed their heroes to play for the love of the game, ... even if that hometown squad ... had traveled from Boston to Milwaukee to Atlanta, as was the case for [Bob] Feller's own team, the Braves." Of course, Hall of Famer Bob Feller was a Cleveland Indian, as is noted higher on the same page 255.
In conclusion, I have read a number of baseball books over the years. I got good information from this book but it became somewhat of a chore to finish it.
January 4, 2022
Covering the first century or so of labor relations in major league baseball (through 1981), this book is highly relevant to today's negotiations. I almost gave up on it in the first chapter because it's methodical and dry, but I stuck with it because of the sheer quantity of good facts I learned. By the end, Swanson had done a compelling job of proving his case that the organized MLBPA helped force a major change in how their role and the sport of baseball as a whole was perceived by the media and public -- from a hobby they were lucky to be paid for (a framing that still exists in some places but is now far from dominant) to a multi-billion dollar business in which players have the right to bargain for their share of the spoils and working conditions.
Other things I learned:
- In the early 1900s labor power went in cycles -- proto-unions formed when there were credible threats from other leagues or significant fractures between owners (giving players some leverage to ally with one faction or another), then disappeared when an ownership bloc reconsolidated monopoly power
- The Yankees franchise (then the Highlanders) were moved to New York from Baltimore primarily to spite former manager John McGraw, who jumped midseason to the New York Giants and took some players with him
- The Supreme Court's 1922 ruling that baseball's reserve clause did not violate antitrust law was fully in line with its other rulings of the time, which took a narrow view of "interstate commerce" (only considering goods that traveled across states, not labor). When it was challenged again later on, the Court basically shrugged and said, this is weird now but we can't overturn direct precedent without Congressional action.
- Marvin Miller wasn't the players' first choice as labor leader when he was hired in 1966; they first offered the job to the incumbent part-time leader Robert Cannon, who was extremely passive in negotiations with the owners, but he rejected it because he didn't want to move to New York or Chicago.
- As late as 1967 the minimum salary in MLB was less than the US average household income
Other things I learned:
- In the early 1900s labor power went in cycles -- proto-unions formed when there were credible threats from other leagues or significant fractures between owners (giving players some leverage to ally with one faction or another), then disappeared when an ownership bloc reconsolidated monopoly power
- The Yankees franchise (then the Highlanders) were moved to New York from Baltimore primarily to spite former manager John McGraw, who jumped midseason to the New York Giants and took some players with him
- The Supreme Court's 1922 ruling that baseball's reserve clause did not violate antitrust law was fully in line with its other rulings of the time, which took a narrow view of "interstate commerce" (only considering goods that traveled across states, not labor). When it was challenged again later on, the Court basically shrugged and said, this is weird now but we can't overturn direct precedent without Congressional action.
- Marvin Miller wasn't the players' first choice as labor leader when he was hired in 1966; they first offered the job to the incumbent part-time leader Robert Cannon, who was extremely passive in negotiations with the owners, but he rejected it because he didn't want to move to New York or Chicago.
- As late as 1967 the minimum salary in MLB was less than the US average household income
July 3, 2017
An interesting take on baseball's labor struggles, recounting them from the perspectives of the fans, the media, and other outsiders, rather than the players and executives. Raises some interesting points about public perception and persuasion. I'm perplexed, however, that something that took such great pains to span the history of baseball could end so abruptly after 1981 without even mentioning the strike of 1994 in the main text, or explaining why it was excluded -- it's the equivalent of writing a book today about the history of the United States that ends before 9/11. Considering the book reads like an academic paper, it leads me to wonder if this book was Mr. Swanson's senior thesis from the 1980's that he finally got around to putting to print. Worth a read, just feels incomplete.
April 28, 2020
Exceptionally detailed coverage, especially of the 1945-70 period in which baseball players came to understand their power -- and dragged the media and the public with them.
March 18, 2018
Just sort of a blow-by-blow of the history of player organizing and bargaining from the early days through 1981. Why it stops in 1981, I don't know. It doesn't really make an argument, and it doesn't live up to the promise of the title (tying the players' unionization efforts to the larger American sports culture). It relies heavily on recitation of various fan and media reactions to the players and their organizing efforts, because the author believes winning the air war is central to the players' making gains in their workplace, but he doesn't establish why that's the case. What's so important about the public's view? The story seems to me one more of developing consciousness and solidarity in the players and leveraging that into economic gains; the public and punditry were largely against the players for decades, yet they still made the gains they did from the late '60s on; if the public view and the media are so important, how did they do that?
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews