Seventh-Inning Stretch · Bush Leagues
Paid Off for Seattle
Portland Baseball Club, Inc. v. Kuhn (1974)
Charge: Contract and Sherman Act antitrust - minor-league club says big-league expansion into its league's territory was not properly paid for (suit against the Commissioner, both major leagues and the clubs)Court: U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitDocket: Bush Leagues
Can a minor-league club recover more for big-league expansion into its territory, or sue under antitrust law, after accepting arbitration awards?
The facts
In the late 1960s the major leagues expanded to Seattle and San Diego, cities in a top minor league's territory. Baseball's rules required new big-league clubs to compensate the minor league for taking its territory. When talks failed, arbitration awarded $300,000 for Seattle and $240,000 for San Diego, and the Portland minor-league club received its share. After selling its franchise, it sued anyway. It argued the rule was not satisfied because the two new clubs had not yet played a game and so were not really major league clubs when the deal was struck, and it added antitrust claims.
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: Portland Baseball Club, Inc. v. Kuhn, 491 F.2d 1101 (9th Cir. 1974)
Read more at openjurist.org. The source reveals the outcome.