Essay on Effects Of Free Agency In Sports

This is the first 1,000 characters of 2200 words (8.8 pages) in the essay titled Effects Of Free Agency In Sports

Effects of free agency in sports

Professional baseball is in a state of turmoil. While the National Basketball Association and the National Football League are prospering, America's "favorite" pastime is faltering. It is no coincidence that this downward spiral began in 1976. That year the court decided in favor of Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally, two pitchers fighting for their own free agency (Burns and Ward, Art. 10). Free agency grants players the ability to choose what team they want to play for once their contract expires. Prior to this case players were confined to stay with their original team. They only changed teams if they were traded (Worsnop, Art. 83). Once Messersmith and McNally won their case, twenty-four players tested the free agent market the following year (Montville 100). Free agency has caused team, league, and labor problems in the financial world of professional baseball.
Free agency has caused many different team problems, such as high salaries, high ticket prices, and unloyal players. Professional baseball players' salaries have skyrocketed since the conception of free agency. In 1976, the first year of free agency, the average salary for baseball players was $52,300 (Montville 102). The next year the average salary doubled. Four years later, the average salary had tripled (Burns and Ward, Art. 10). Even though the average salary was about $50,000 in 1976, the first twenty-four free agents earned about $200,000 each that same yea

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