Extra Innings · Baseball's Exemption
Waiting on the Move
City of San Jose v. Office of the Commissioner of Baseball (2015)
Charge: Sherman Act antitrust - city claims the league stalled a club's relocation into a rival club's territory (suit against the Commissioner's office)Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitDocket: Baseball's Exemption
Does baseball's antitrust exemption cover the league's control over where franchises may relocate?
The facts
A city wanted to lure a big-league club to a new ballpark. The site lay inside a neighboring club's exclusive territory under league rules. The league formed a committee to study the move and, after about four years, still had not decided. The city sued, arguing that the exemption covers only the reserve clause, not franchise relocation.
You have the facts the court had. Guilty or not guilty? Call it in the game with your friends, then see what the court actually decided. Wrong call, you drink.
Citation: City of San Jose v. Office of the Commissioner of Baseball, 776 F.3d 686 (9th Cir. 2015)
Read more at wlo.willamette.edu. The source reveals the outcome.