Baseball in Crisis

<p> Recent polls have placed football ahead of baseball in popularity. Does this reflect football's rise or baseball's decline? Why has the national pastime--a title perhaps becoming inaccurate--fallen behind other major sports? Is the trend reversible?</p><p> This book identifies the most substantial and persistent issues that have impaired Major League Baseball's development. Chapters cover inflationary player team and game costs; changes in baseball's fan base; congestion in urban areas that host big league ballclubs; the negligent and irrational actions (some of it criminal) of players owners league officials and the players' union; and the maldistribution of power among the major league franchises. Six major reforms needed to boost the popularity of baseball are identified.</p>