tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9822324.post4085352824067190565..comments2024-01-10T08:35:57.024-06:00Comments on Middletree: Why Should Marvin Miller Be Honored?Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04014047518163579226noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9822324.post-13456711941994713732012-11-29T21:06:51.350-06:002012-11-29T21:06:51.350-06:00This is ludicrous. Your 'main point' doesn...This is ludicrous. Your 'main point' doesn't stand up to even the most cursory skim of his bio. He took over the union in 1966, not "the 1970s", for one thing, but let's look at this "millionaires" claim you keep trotting out. Wiki? "Miller negotiated MLBPA's first collective bargaining agreement with the team owners in 1968. That agreement increased the minimum salary from $6,000 to $10,000, the first increase in two decades." Presumably your economics courses informed you that $6,000 in 1968 only inflates to a little under $40,000 today.<br /><br />Players weren't even allowed to play for anyone but the team that drafted them, ever, at whatever rate that team felt like paying. <i>Ever.</i> Doesn't indentured servitude strike you as a <i>slightly</i> un-American way of running an industry?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9822324.post-45841615881087468112012-11-29T15:27:54.580-06:002012-11-29T15:27:54.580-06:00I know, I know. I have taken a few economics cours...I know, I know. I have taken a few economics courses, and am even certified to teach it at the high school level. I dang near took that one part out of this blog post, because I knew someone would focus on it. My main point stands, though: Miller stood up for millionaires, but at the expense of regular people with regular incomes. He should not be honored for that, and certainly shouldn't be lumped in with real working-class heroes. Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04014047518163579226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9822324.post-74184561642958405192012-11-29T15:21:49.266-06:002012-11-29T15:21:49.266-06:00A basic understanding of market economics reveals ...A basic understanding of market economics reveals that ticket prices are NOT driven by player salaries. Ticket prices are driven by supply and demand for tickets within each local market and the revenue maximization (or fan goodwill considerations) of each team. Player salaries only determine who RECEIVES the ticket revenue, the players or the owners. You're right that the fight is between millionaires and billionaires, but you're also arguing for giving the billionaires more money and keeping the players from becoming millionaires. The Oriole Wayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16483309131692836436noreply@blogger.com