Rating: 
Summary: Lords of the Realm_not
Review: How the individual owners in major league baseball on a continual basis constantly lose out to the MLB Players Union in the collective bargaining process. This book lucidly details how the owners plans are constantly frustrated by the Union and also the Commisioner of Baseball. Who is the employee of the owners, but until recently had independent powers. This book does not cover the Bud Selig Years as commisioner of Baseball. A must read for the baseball fan who gets frustrated with the work stopages. Another must read book is Marvin Millers' Whole Different Ball Game: A History how the Union taught the players to be discontented about their salaries and the terms of employment. How one man worked tirelessly to make athletes well informed about the business side of baseball and the lies of the owners, in so doing improved the lives of all profesional athletes.
Rating:
Summary: Baseball owners are idiots? I'm shocked...shocked!
Review: I would add to my strong recommendation of this book a companion reading of Marvin Miller's "A Whole Different Ball Game," which gives a better treatment of the early history of labor relations in the sport, but unfortunately ends in the mid-80's, when Miller's retirement took effect. I used to think the players were a bunch of greedheads...once you know the history of the relations between owners and players, though, it's easy to understand where they're coming from.
Rating:
Summary: Baseball owners are idiots? I'm shocked...shocked!
Review: I would add to my strong recommendation of this book a companion reading of Marvin Miller's "A Whole Different Ball Game," which gives a better treatment of the early history of labor relations in the sport, but unfortunately ends in the mid-80's, when Miller's retirement took effect. I used to think the players were a bunch of greedheads...once you know the history of the relations between owners and players, though, it's easy to understand where they're coming from.
Rating:
Summary: Truly insightful
Review: If you want to know about baseball, this is the one book you MUST read. From the early days of robber-baron owners, to the formation of the most powerful union in the world, this book tells it all in great detail. I cannot recommend it enough to fans of the game as well as anyone interested in the history of business in America. It has been said that to know the history of America, you must know the history of baseball. This book exemplifies that thought. Its out of print, but try as hard as you can to find a copy. You will not be dissapointed.
Rating:
Summary: Truly insightful
Review: If you want to know about baseball, this is the one book you MUST read. From the early days of robber-baron owners, to the formation of the most powerful union in the world, this book tells it all in great detail. I cannot recommend it enough to fans of the game as well as anyone interested in the history of business in America. It has been said that to know the history of America, you must know the history of baseball. This book exemplifies that thought. Its out of print, but try as hard as you can to find a copy. You will not be dissapointed.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant summary of struggle for control, owners vs players
Review: John Helyar tells the real story of the real history of baseball. You thought it was about hits, innings, runs, etc. but it is really a story of greed and the pursuit of power. Detail by detail, plot by plot, Helyar shows the reader the backroom struggles of the game's powerful elite from Ban Johnson and Judge Landis to Charlie Finley and Marvin Miller. Helyar informs the reader of the power struggle that has existed since professional baseball was founded in 1869 between the owners of franchises and the players for control of what has become a multi-billion dollar industry. Learn about the 1975 Messerschmidt-McNally decision that ended the reserve clause and brought on free agency, the O'Malley family ripping the heart out of the city of Brooklyn by taking the 'Bums' out of Brooklyn to sunny Los Angeles, the creation of the players union and how it changed the face of baseball forever. Find out why the seemingly minor details to fans become reasons for all out war among the owners and players. This is an excellent book for any fan or non-fan who is interested in the struggle for control of our national pasttime. If you're wondering why names like Bud Selig and Don Fehr are in the news more than Cal Ripken, Jr. and Kirby Puckett, this book explains why.
Rating: 
Summary: New insights into baseball's headlines
Review: Just finished reading "Lords". Very well done, just as "Barbarians at the Gate" was. I will never read the sports page the same. Anyone who takes sides with either labor or management in the baseball wars, can now fully understand the background issues. Very readable for anyone
Rating:
Summary: The best book I have ever read on the subject.
Review: Maybe one of the best books I have EVER read. If you are a basbeall fan and have NOT read this book, you only know half of the story. This book contains all of the history that explains the present. Get past the dogma of "greedy ballplayers" and understand how baseball got to where it is.
Rating:
Summary: great look at greed and stupidity
Review: One of my biggest complaints about the sports section of most newspapers these days is that it has more crime and business news than sports. I normally don't like reading about the business of sports, but this book is outstanding. It's a history of labor negotiations through the history of baseball, and exposes the owners as some of the greediest and stupidest people you'll ever read about.Marvin Miller made them all pay for their stupidity, getting exactly what he wanted from his negotiations with them. The book is full of great anecdotes. One of my favorites was when Jimmy Foxx won the American League Triple Crown and they tried to cut his salary the next season, because he hadn't hit as many homers as he did the year before. He actually had to hold out just to get the same pay he made the year before. All baseball fans should read this book.
Rating:
Summary: great look at greed and stupidity
Review: One of my biggest complaints about the sports section of most newspapers these days is that it has more crime and business news than sports. I normally don't like reading about the business of sports, but this book is outstanding. It's a history of labor negotiations through the history of baseball, and exposes the owners as some of the greediest and stupidest people you'll ever read about. Marvin Miller made them all pay for their stupidity, getting exactly what he wanted from his negotiations with them. The book is full of great anecdotes. One of my favorites was when Jimmy Foxx won the American League Triple Crown and they tried to cut his salary the next season, because he hadn't hit as many homers as he did the year before. He actually had to hold out just to get the same pay he made the year before. All baseball fans should read this book.
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