Take Me Out to the Courthouse · The Reserve Clause
The League That Folded
Federal Baseball Club of Baltimore v. National League (1922)
Charge: Sherman Act conspiracy to monopolize baseball by destroying a rival league (suit against the established leagues)Court: Supreme Court of the United StatesDocket: The Reserve Clause
Is staging professional baseball games 'interstate commerce' covered by the federal antitrust laws?
The facts
An upstart third major league challenged the two established leagues for several seasons, then collapsed. The owner of its Baltimore club got nothing when the others were bought out or absorbed. He sued the established leagues, claiming they had conspired to monopolize professional baseball and wreck his league. A jury found for him and awarded damages that were tripled under antitrust law. The appeals court threw out the verdict, and the case went to the nation's highest court.
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: Federal Baseball Club of Baltimore v. National League, 259 U.S. 200 (1922)
Read more at supreme.justia.com. The source reveals the outcome.