Democrat senators Paul Wellstone and Mark Dayton from Minnesota have both asked President Bush to support legislation that would rescind baseball’s antitrust exemption. “It’s a steep mountain to climb, but we absolutely have to make the effort,” Wellstone said.
The legislation comes in response to baseball Commissioner Bub Selig’s announcement on Tuesday that owners plan to shut down two financially troubled teams before the start of next season, with Montreal and Minnesota the most likely to disappear. Other teams which could go include the Florida Marlins and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Selig acknowledged there was a chance the elimination could be held up by a judge or arbitrator.
If the two sides do not come to an agreement, the case would be decided by baseball’s permanent arbitrator Shyam Das.
