Abstract
Sucmacz stated that the idea for the use of information systems technology for Major League Baseball began in 1999, as Major League Baseball realized that it could benefit itself and all of the MLB teams if there were centralized website that would "replace individual independent team sites...be all things to all fans...and had the potential to generate revenue for its 30 teams" (1). In the beginning the it was believed that the idea of creating such a centralized website would not be universally accepted by all MLB teams because many of the popular teams were receiving their own revenue from their sites, while the smaller, less popular teams were not profiting from a web presence. Yet, the baseball commissioner and his staff presented the idea for a centralized website network to the team owners and managers with the theory that such a network would create a "balance" of revenue from the Internet that would be equally shared and support the growth of MLB (Sucmacz 2). Surprisingly all 30 teams agreed to the centralized network site, with MLB.com being created. The concept of the site included specifics that MLB believed would serve teams and fans alike, as well as build a positive business reputation for MLB.

From the Paper
Major League Baseball and Computer Technology Sucmacz stated that the idea for the use of information systems technology for Major League Baseball began in 1999, as Major League Baseball realized that it could benefit itself and all of the MLB teams if there were centralized website that would "replace individual independent team sites...be all things to all fans...and had the potential to generate revenue for its 30 teams" (1). In the beginning the it was believed that the idea of creating such a centralized website would not be universally accepted by all MLB teams because many of the popular teams were receiving their own revenue from their sites, while the smaller, less popular teams

Tags:baseball, major, league

Abstract
In "Boom, Bust and Echo", authors David Foot and Daniel Stoffman discuss the overriding importance of demographics. They demonstrate that the most complicated matters in society are usually moulded by the population's age distribution. Thus, we see that businesses capitalize on everyday worries, such as where interest rates are going or whether quitting a job is really a bad idea. As a result, the book provides significant practical advice on aspects such as the stock market, employment patterns and even the future of the family. In reading this book, it becomes clear that all Canadians have to re-examine how they do business if they hope to succeed in the next decade and beyond.

Abstract
This paper explains that, even though it has obvious characteristics that would characterize another industry as a monopoly, the U.S. Congress has granted major league baseball (MLB) an antitrust exemption. However, there have been challenges to this MLB exemption that would open the baseball industry to greater competition. The author examines the standing reasoning behind this antitrust exemption, analyzes some of the major challenges to the exemption and discusses the overall implications and ramifications for this industry and any industry. In conclusion, the paper points out that other sports have persisted despite not having antitrust exemptions, so there is little reason to expect that baseball could not adapt as well.

Table of Contents:
Major League Baseball's Status
Challenges to the Antitrust Exemption
Industry Ramifications and Conclusions

From the Paper
"In 1953, the Supreme Court was granted a chance to correct the anomalous decision that was made in 1922 that granted baseball exemption from antitrust suits. The case was Toolson vs. The New York Yankees. In the case, George Toolson was reassigned from a minor league team to another team. The reserve clause, still in effect at that time, was used by the league as the means to forcibly transfer Toolson. Toolson, apparently, did not want to make the move. He believed that the reserve clause interfered with his ability to manage his own career, a point that was not incorrect."

Tags:competition, reserve clause, collective bargaining, interstate commerce, repeal

Abstract
This paper examines the racial situation in Tidewater, Virginia, through a discussion of the Negro League Baseball. The paper describes this team as, like all the black teams, a reflection of black life in the United States. The separate but unequal status they enjoyed appeared as a ghost of the white teams. The paper explores the financial challenges that faced the league, claiming them to be no different than those of other black enterprises, from stage entertainment to boxing. The financial challenges, arguably more than skin color, are what kept them in the background, shadowing the growth of the American ball club. Like a shadow on a wall, Negro League Baseball in Virginia, as everywhere else, would disappear when the bright light of national fame finally shone on one of its members, Jackie Robinson.

From the Paper
"A report in the Norfolk Journal and Guide in 1917 paints a picture of racial harmony in Tidewater, Virginia, that would almost make one wonder why there needed to be Negro League Baseball. The banner headlines almost said it all: "Big Labor Day Celebration," "Thousands of White and Colored Laborers Paraded Streets of City." "Harmony Between Races" As that report told it, the celebration was a landmark of many sorts. In a relatively lengthy preface to the description of the baseball game that was the culmination of the day, it noted that "If carrying the stars and stripes is a demonstrative evidence of patriotism and loyalty to the United States, the Norfolk colored labor organizations can be styled as true friends to their country. The organizations were out very strong on Labor day [sic]. Several thousands together with the white Labor unions marched the streets of Norfolk in celebration of the day designated as their day throughout the country.""

Tags:jackie, robinson, sport, racism

Abstract
This paper demonstrates the measurement of central tendency, dispersion, skewing of data and frequencies to investigate if a team that pays higher salaries is more likely to win. Based on these descriptive statistics, the author observes that several teams in major league baseball are paid less, yet have the same amount of wins as the higher paid teams. The paper concludes that higher salaries do not affect winning. The paper includes a histogram but does not include the source data or calculations.

Table of Contents:
The Process
Central Tendency, Dispersion, and Skewing For Data
Frequencies for Wins and Salaries
Histogram
Conclusion of Research
Conclusion

From the Paper
"To calculate the central tendency of the data the mean is a significant measure. Finding the average revenue for 30 teams requires calculating the smallest sum to the largest sum. After finding the sum dividing by the amount of teams in baseball, which is 30 will provide the mean. Each sample item will affect the mean or the balancing point of the fulcrum. The averages above and below the mean will help in determining the team revenue and the availability of revenue to offer top salaries to the superior players in the league."

Tags:decision-making, average, dispersion, frequency, impact

Abstract
The paper explains that now that professional sports have entered the 21st century, it is crucial that Major League Baseball institutes revenue sharing and a salary cap to maintain the competition between large and small market franchises. It maintains that with a dozen struggling, small-market ball clubs, constant discussion about contracting teams, and individual salaries skyrocketing over the payrolls of entire teams, the time has come where the owners and players must agree on something for the betterment of the game's future. The paper shows however that with continuous disagreements between the owners and player's union, and the threat of another strike, the negative effects may outweigh the positive.

From the Paper
"The Major League Baseball Player's Association is the strongest union in professional sports. The players would most likely strike if a salary cap was presented to them because most of the league's athletes would be faced with a reduction in salary (Smizik). It is believed that another strike would cause Major League Baseball to lose millions of dollars and possibly fan support. "It would take a long and bitter work stoppage for the players to accept a salary cap and it would simply not be worth it," says Smizik. Smizik believes a salary cap would help baseball's economic future, but is opposed because of the costs it will take to institute it. Baseball had a difficult time regaining fan support after the 1994 strike, and a second may be even more difficult to overcome (Smizik). However, true baseball fans will realize that the strike was necessary for the league's economic future, and will still support the game."

Tags:argument, critical, sharing, New, York, Yankees, World, Series, Championships, Stadium

Abstract
The paper examines how Major League Baseball (MLB) generates $3.5 billion in annual revenues and how the economic turmoil the sport has undergone recently has attracted a great deal of attention both because of its huge fan following as well as the fact that it's an integral part of American culture. It evaluates how the range of different rates on return on investment for different teams is too large and blames it on competitive imbalances caused by a few very rich owners and a widening of what the industry classifies as "local revenues." It shows how if MLB continues to see uncontrolled rises in its fixed and variable costs, several teams may just have to raise ticket prices, which will not bode well for an industry that is already witnessing demand elasticity and will likely, in future, experience price elasticity as well if raised ticket prices lead to a resulting negative trend in total revenues. It concludes with how MLB needs to be thoroughly overhauled using basic fundamental economic principles of controlling variable costs and providing a level playing field so that the performance of the smaller teams picks up and the demand to watch them win also grows.

From the Paper
"MLB is also subject to the concept of "time cost" and consumer choice, at least perceptually given its discrete and isolated actions and long pauses as compared to the more action packed sports of football and basketball. This is especially true given the far faster paced lifestyles of today and is likely to have an even bigger impact in future as the natural effects of time and demand elasticity kick in as well over the longer run.

MLB's turmoil has also been caused by cash strapped owners who are probably feeling the pinch of the "opportunity cost of equity capital" as a lot of owners are "not as liquid as they were five years ago, annual losses rise to $10million, $20 million or more" (MSNBC Web site)."

Tags:variable, costs, price, culture, sport, annual, revenues, turmoil, ticket

Abstract
This paper addresses several elements of MLB, including the governance of the game and the baseball Commissioner. Other topics addressed by the paper are: relations between players and club owners, suspensions and appeals, baseball scandals, and the composition of club organizations and leagues.

Tags:steriod, league, commissioner, baseball, club owners, appeals, suspensions

Abstract
This paper relates that, although Gwinnett County near Atlanta enthusiastically voted to build a new stadium to attract a minor league baseball team, they made this decision based on optimistic building cost and revenue projections. Nonetheless, the author contends, bringing the team to Gwinnett is likely to have a positive impact on the community. The paper concludes that the Atlanta Braves, owners of the minor league team, will benefit substantially because they paid nothing to building the stadium and yet will receive impressive revenue flows from its operation.

From the Paper
"Since the deal was made, the stadium costs have increased significantly. The construction budget of the stadium increased approximately 50% by the fall of 2008. The County was forced to pay for this shortfall by accessing reserve funds of $19 million, a move that received unanimous approval in September. The weakening economy has hampered some of the projected revenues as well. For example, the stadium has yet to be named, and the market for naming rates has worsened considerably since the deal was announced. This will lead to a shortfall in revenues, not just for this upcoming year but for several years to come."

Tags:shortfall, funding package, revenue streams, projections, easy access

Abstract
This paper considers immediate causes and remote causes of a brawl at a baseball game between the two teams. It also looks at the Impact of the emotionally charged competitive atmosphere of the game.

From the Paper
"In the picture of the baseball brawl more than a team's worth of players are shown in various stages of beating each other up. It is possible that some of the players are trying to break up the .."

Tags:baseball, brawl, cause and effect, personal essay