Andrew S. Zimbalist

"Examines, from an economic perspective, how the different traditions of soccer and baseball have shaped the possibilites for their commercial organization and exploitation, and considers how each sport might learn from the other's experiences to develop meaningful reforms"--Provided by publisher.

A professor of economics at Smith College, Zimbalist ( Comparing Economic Systems ) here presents the best recent work about baseball's economic aspects. He analyzes profits, franchise values, attendance and ticket pricing, the relations between teams and their host cities, minor-league ball and player salaries. Admirably objective, he is skeptical about the owners, whose creative bookkeeping practices make their cries of poverty almost credible;...