May the Best Team Win: Baseball Economics and Public Policy
Author: Andrew S. Zimbalist, Bob Costas
List Price: $24.95
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ISBN: 0815797281
Publisher: The Brookings Institution (05 March, 2003)
Sales Rank: 15,683
Average Customer Rating: 4 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 4 out of 5
Darn clear thinking
Good book. Read it after listening to the interview
on First Voice. Detailed, specific, thoughtful.The interview is online at
http://www.7to7.net/zim.html
There's a transcript for those using dial up.
--J. R.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Great insight..
This was a great view into the inner workings of baseball's front offices. Not only does it give the reader a foundation for understanding the complexities of baseball labor negotiations, but it also gives insight into foundations of free agency and many of the arcane laws that give the sport its monopoly status.Its a quick read and a great reference for any student of the financial aspects of the game, especially those interested in reform.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Terrific work on the state of baseball
Bob Costas's popular "Fair Ball" was an examination of baseball from the fan's perspective. "May the Best Team Win" is a similar work, but is written from the point of view of a professor of economics. Mr. Zimbalist's writing style is often just what you would expect from an economist; the text is very dense and may turn off some readers. Luckily, the book's fault is also its strength. The well-researched analysis provides irrefutable arguments in favor of making changes in the game, and educates the reader far better than other authors' attempts.This deeply probing work uncovers the abuses and inefficiencies in the baseball industry, and concludes that baseball's monopoly is the devil in the details. Team owners use their monopoly power to "derive higher returns, misallocate resources, and take advantage of consumers." Any fan who has paid $5 for a ballpark hot dog will definitely empathize with his findings.
"May the Best Team Win" addresses the competitive balance (or competitive imbalance), the myth of non-profitability, the collective bargaining agreements, and how teams convince cities to foot the bill for new stadiums.
In the end, Mr. Zimbalist outlines some possible solutions to help improve the game. Some of his ideas seem workable, while others seem idealistic and unrealistic. However, all of his suggestions are well worth reading. This is an ambitious effort, and fans with serious concerns about the future of the sport will definitely appreciate this analytical endeavor. Zimbalist has taken on a difficult issue, and shown that he has more than just warning track power.
Highly recommended.
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