{"product_id":"in-the-best-interests-of-baseball-governing-the-national-pastime-9780803245358","title":"In the Best Interests of Baseball?: Governing the National Pastime","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eIn the Best Interests of Baseball?\u003c\/i\u003e is a thoughtful, balanced look at the impact of the ninth commissioner of baseball, Bud Selig, on the sport as well as an examination of the commissioner's position in a historical context. The more controversial topics Andrew Zimbalist probes include the conflicts of interest arising from Selig's original role as owner\/commissioner; Selig's response to the persistent steroids scandal; the commissioner's role in promoting and marketing the sport; player relations and the collective-bargaining agreement; managing explosive conflicts among the owners; the game's economic challenges; major changes made on Selig's watch; and Selig's growing compensation. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnderlying this very public evaluation is a far more challenging question: given the legal, economic, and political architecture of Major League Baseball, can any commissioner act in the best interest of the game? Based on dozens of interviews with Selig, former president and chief operating officer of Major League Baseball Bob DuPuy, and scores of baseball insiders and interested outsiders, as well as on mountains of historic baseball documents, \u003ci\u003eIn the Best Interests of Baseball?\u003c\/i\u003e challenges everything you thought you knew about the game, the Major Leagues, the players, the owners, and, most of all, the man at the helm. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis edition includes a new preface and epilogue by the author discussing the developments in the baseball industry since 2005 and anticipating what lies ahead for the national pastime.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAndrew Zimbalist is the Robert A. Woods Professor of Economics at Smith College. An award-winning writer, media commentator, and consultant in the sports industry, he is the author of numerous books, including \u003ci\u003eCircling the Bases: Essays on the Challenges and Prospects of the Sports Industry\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eMay the Best Team Win: Baseball Economics and Public Policy\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"University of Nebraska Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50328427004178,"sku":"9780803245358","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_44dd33f7-6386-476f-bcf7-38d7492455de.jpg?v=1727739349","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/in-the-best-interests-of-baseball-governing-the-national-pastime-9780803245358","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}