Major League Baseball Players Association
Encyclopedia
The Major League Baseball Players Association (or MLBPA) is the union
of professional major-league baseball
players.
from the United Steel Workers of America to head the organization, serving as Executive Director until 1983. In 1968, Miller negotiated the first collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the team owners, which raised the minimum salary from $6,000 to $10,000 per year. The 1970 CBA included arbitration
to resolve disputes. In 1972 the major leagues saw their first player strike, in opposition to the owners' refusal to increase player pension funds.
In 1974, when owner Charlie Finley failed to make a $50,000 payment into an insurance annuity as called for in Catfish Hunter
's contract, the MLBPA took the case to arbitration
. The arbitrator ruled that Hunter could be a free agent
.
During Miller's tenure, base salaries, pension funds, licensing rights and revenues were increased, laying the groundwork that helped create what is widely considered one of the strongest unions in the country. Miller challenged the reserve clause
which was used by team owners to bind players to one team. The strength of the union was immeasurably increased by the creation of the modern free agent
system following the Seitz decision
in 1975.
Players and owners failed to come to terms over free agent compensation, which led to another strike in 1981. In the late 1980s and early 1990s the MLBPA filed collusion
charges, arguing that team owners had violated the collective bargaining agreement in the 1985–1987 seasons. The MLBPA won each case, resulting in "second look" free agents, and over $269 million in owner fines.
joined the MLBPA as general counsel in 1977 and was named executive director in 1985, leading it through the 1994 Major League Baseball strike and recent issues.
On June 22, , Fehr announced he will step down and after a transition period, will be replaced by the union's general counsel
, Michael Weiner
.
is the only major professional sports league in the U.S.A that does not have a salary cap
; the MLS
, NHL
, NBA
and NFL
all implement some sort of salary cap. Right now the union and several big market owners like the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees oppose such a salary cap.
steroid scandal, the players dropped their opposition to a steroid testing program and developed a consensus that favored testing. Under pressure from US Congress
which threatened to pass a law if the MLB's drug policy was not strengthened, the baseball union agreed in 2005 to a stricter policy that would include 50-game, 100-game, and lifetime suspensions.
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
of professional major-league baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
players.
History of MLBPA
The MLBPA was not the first attempt to unionize baseball players. Earlier attempts had included:- Brotherhood of Professional Baseball Players - 1885 (founded by John Montgomery WardJohn Montgomery WardJohn Montgomery Ward , known as Monte Ward, was an American Major League Baseball pitcher, shortstop and manager. Ward was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Renovo, Pennsylvania...
) - Players' Protective Association - 1900
- Fraternity of Professional Baseball Players of America - 1912
- National Baseball Players Association of the United States - 1922 (founded by Raymond Joseph CannonRaymond Joseph CannonRaymond Joseph Cannon was an attorney, baseball player and Democratic politician who represented Wisconsin's 4th congressional district in the Congress from 1933 to 1939....
)
The Marvin Miller era
The MLBPA was created in 1953. In 1966, the union hired Marvin MillerMarvin Miller
Marvin Julian Miller is a former executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association , from 1966 to 1982. Under Miller's direction, the players' union was transformed into one of the strongest unions in the United States...
from the United Steel Workers of America to head the organization, serving as Executive Director until 1983. In 1968, Miller negotiated the first collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the team owners, which raised the minimum salary from $6,000 to $10,000 per year. The 1970 CBA included arbitration
Arbitration
Arbitration, a form of alternative dispute resolution , is a legal technique for the resolution of disputes outside the courts, where the parties to a dispute refer it to one or more persons , by whose decision they agree to be bound...
to resolve disputes. In 1972 the major leagues saw their first player strike, in opposition to the owners' refusal to increase player pension funds.
In 1974, when owner Charlie Finley failed to make a $50,000 payment into an insurance annuity as called for in Catfish Hunter
Catfish Hunter
James Augustus "Catfish" Hunter , was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. During a 15-year baseball career, he pitched from 1965-1979 for both the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees...
's contract, the MLBPA took the case to arbitration
Arbitration
Arbitration, a form of alternative dispute resolution , is a legal technique for the resolution of disputes outside the courts, where the parties to a dispute refer it to one or more persons , by whose decision they agree to be bound...
. The arbitrator ruled that Hunter could be a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
.
During Miller's tenure, base salaries, pension funds, licensing rights and revenues were increased, laying the groundwork that helped create what is widely considered one of the strongest unions in the country. Miller challenged the reserve clause
Reserve clause
The reserve clause is a term formerly employed in North American professional sports contracts. The reserve clause, contained in all standard player contracts, stated that, upon the contract's expiration the rights to the player were to be retained by the team to which he had been signed...
which was used by team owners to bind players to one team. The strength of the union was immeasurably increased by the creation of the modern free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
system following the Seitz decision
Seitz decision
The Seitz decision was a ruling by arbitrator Peter Seitz on December 23, 1975 which declared that Major League Baseball players became free agents upon playing one year for their team without a contract, effectively nullifying baseball's reserve clause...
in 1975.
Players and owners failed to come to terms over free agent compensation, which led to another strike in 1981. In the late 1980s and early 1990s the MLBPA filed collusion
Baseball collusion
Baseball collusion refers to owners working together to avoid competitive bidding for player services or players jointly negotiating with team owners....
charges, arguing that team owners had violated the collective bargaining agreement in the 1985–1987 seasons. The MLBPA won each case, resulting in "second look" free agents, and over $269 million in owner fines.
Recent history
Donald FehrDonald Fehr
Donald M. Fehr is the executive director of the National Hockey League Players Association. He previously served as the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association from 1986-2009....
joined the MLBPA as general counsel in 1977 and was named executive director in 1985, leading it through the 1994 Major League Baseball strike and recent issues.
On June 22, , Fehr announced he will step down and after a transition period, will be replaced by the union's general counsel
General Counsel
A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
, Michael Weiner
Michael Weiner (executive)
Michael S. Weiner is the executive director or the Major League Baseball Players Association. He assumed the role in December 2009, replacing Don Fehr. Weiner joined the organization in 1988 and had been general counsel since 2004...
.
Salary Cap
As of 2011, Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
is the only major professional sports league in the U.S.A that does not have a salary cap
Salary cap
In professional sports, a salary cap is a cartel agreement between teams that places a limit on the amount of money that can be spent on player salaries. The limit exists as a per-player limit or a total limit for the team's roster, or both...
; the MLS
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
, NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
and NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
all implement some sort of salary cap. Right now the union and several big market owners like the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees oppose such a salary cap.
Steroids
The MLBPA was initially opposed to random steroid testing, claiming it to be a violation of the privacy of players. After enormous negative publicity surrounding the alleged or actual involvement of several star players in the BALCOBalco
Balco can refer to:* the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative - a controversial sports medicine/nutrition centre in Burlingame, California.* Balco balcony systems who develops, designs and manufactures balcony systems and glazing solutions....
steroid scandal, the players dropped their opposition to a steroid testing program and developed a consensus that favored testing. Under pressure from US Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
which threatened to pass a law if the MLB's drug policy was not strengthened, the baseball union agreed in 2005 to a stricter policy that would include 50-game, 100-game, and lifetime suspensions.
Executive Director
- Frank Scott: May 1, 1959 – 1966
- Marvin MillerMarvin MillerMarvin Julian Miller is a former executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association , from 1966 to 1982. Under Miller's direction, the players' union was transformed into one of the strongest unions in the United States...
: July 1, 1966 – December 9, 1982 - Ken Moffett: December 9, 1982 – November 22, 1983
- Marvin Miller (Interim): November 22, 1983 – December 9, 1983
- Donald FehrDonald FehrDonald M. Fehr is the executive director of the National Hockey League Players Association. He previously served as the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association from 1986-2009....
(Acting): December 9, 1983 – December 1985; December 1985–2009 - Michael WeinerMichael Weiner (executive)Michael S. Weiner is the executive director or the Major League Baseball Players Association. He assumed the role in December 2009, replacing Don Fehr. Weiner joined the organization in 1988 and had been general counsel since 2004...
: June 22, 2009–Present
External links
- www.mlbplayers.com
- The early days of free agency by Darren Rovell
Further reading
- Helyar, John. (1994). Lords of the Realm: The Real History of Baseball. New York: Villard. ISBN 0-679-41197-6.
- Korr, Charles P. (2002). The End of Baseball as We Knew It: The Players Union, 1960–81. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0-252-02752-3.