Major League Baseball’s coronavirus shutdown has turned into a full-blown labor war. MLB and the MLBPA have been haggling over economics for weeks now, and a few days ago the union called the league’s bluff and instructed commissioner Rob Manfred to unilaterally schedule the season as per the terms of the two sides’ March agreement. “Tell us when and where (to report),” union chief Tony Clark said.
In the days since, Manfred has responded by saying he is “not confident” baseball will be played in 2020. He said that only days after guaranteeing baseball would be played this season, “100 percent.” MLBPA walking away from the table and the threat of a grievance have changed the calculus. Now Manfred is not so sure baseball can be played.
“Professional baseball is on the wane. Salaries must come down or the interest of public must be increased in some way. If one or the other does not happen, bankruptcy stares every team in the face,” an MLB owner once said, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. The owner: Al Spalding in 1881. Baseball owners have been crying poor for centuries. Nothing’s changed.
Of course, the 2020 season could be canceled for reasons that have nothing to do with economics. COVID-19 cases are on the rise in several states and it simply may not be safe to play baseball. Should the 2020 season be canceled, regardless of reason, it would be historic and dramatically impact the game long-term. Here are four ways how.
A canceled season would be unprecedented.
Never before has baseball canceled an entire season without a single game being played. There was at least a partial season played around all prior work stoppages. Furthermore, the National Hockey League is the only major North America sports league to ever cancel an entire season. The NHL missed its 2004-05 season because of an owners’ lockout.
—CBS SPORTS
