MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL=S ANTITRUST EXEMPTION HISTORY
             In the United States, professional sports are an American way of life and culture. These leagues started out as entertainment for all of its spectators, but progressed into Abig business@ which has allowed team owners to prosper tremendously. Initially, majority of the different professional sports team owners used various methods to restrict players= mobility and salaries and/or attempted to monopolize the sport in some aspect. However, through the judicial courts of the federal government, antitrust laws apply to all professional sports, except baseball. The antitrust statutes applicable to professional sports are within the Sherman Act.
             No area of law has impacted professional sports over the past thirty years than antitrust. (Roberts, 135) First enacted by Congress in 1890, the Sherman Act was to curb concentrations of power that interfered with trade and reduced economic competition. These laws are the major mechanisms available to affect change in sports. (Champion, 52) Various groups have used the antitrust laws: e.g., players, owners, colleges, etc. The goal of these antitrust plaintiffs was to achieve some result at the expense of management, whether it was for better wages, better conditions, a new location or less control (Champion, 53). These cases were applied to Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act.
             The Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C., Section 1 states AEvery contract, combination in the form of a trust or otherwise, or conspiracy, in restraint of trade of commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, is declared to be illegal. @ This Section of the Sherman Act is to protect the public interest from competitive practices. Application of the statute to professional sports antitrust cases involves challenges to any league rule, decision or action [league conduct] by come dissatisfied person [a team player] claiming conspiracy of the league member c...