Why The Recession Benefits Major League Baseball

With the recession this country faces right now, which will very likely continue for at least the next two years, professional sports are going to be dealt a financial blow.  Major League Baseball certainly will feel the effects of this financial crisis. Personally, the recession might be what this country needs to return to sound fiscal management [assuming of course that the hyper-stupid Congress quits bailing out failing businesses!!!].  But, I digress. The purpose of this article is to discuss why the recession might create a much needed positive to reform the game of baseball.  What is this positive?  It is...the end of big contracts! Following the 1979 season, the Houston Astros signed free agent Nolan Ryan from the California Angels.  The Astros gave Ryan a four-year, $4.5 million contract. This made Nolan Ryan the first Major League baseball player to sign a contract worth at least $1 million a season. Since the Nolan Ryan contract, salaries have ... (link)