Sports

Why Is Major League Baseball Exempt From Antitrust Laws?

2022 marks 100 years since the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that professional baseball is exempt from the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Why Is Major League Baseball Exempt From Antitrust Laws?
Harkim Wright Sr. / AP
SMS

Peanuts, crackerjack and a century-old exemption from antitrust law: all part of America’s pastime.  

2022 marks 100 years since the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that professional baseball is exempt from the Sherman Antitrust Act. That was a law from 1890 aimed to limit monopolies and protect competitive business practices. 

So why did the court give baseball a free pass?