The Future of Baseball

As the World Series approaches, baseball shines in its archaic glory. But even the home run exploits of Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa cannot hide the fact that other sports now rival the popularity of America's “national pastime.” Baseball's problems — most of them rooted in the economics of modern sports — have diminished the quality of the game and the loyalty of its fans. As baseball executives ponder further expansion, as players’ salaries continue to soar and as minorities turn to other sports, big league baseball seems increasingly distant from its sandlot roots. Before it is too late, critics say, baseball owners must stop diluting the quality of play and reduce costs so that the game doesn’t become too expensive for its fans.