Baseball Meets the Law

“A truly important contribution to the literature of the game. In addition to the vast amounts of material summarized in [the book’s] chapters, Edmonds and Houdek conclude with the excellent and thorough “Index of Cases and Statutes” and “Subject Index,” both which will be of considerable value to anyone planning to research baseball and the law, or even baseball’s social history in general….highly recommended”—Nine; “impressive and well-researched…. The authors have painstakingly detailed an exhaustive account of baseball and the law…a meticulously detailed account of baseball’s most noteworthy legal occurrences. This is a great reference book and should be part of any law library’s collection.”—Law Library Journal; “[A] most readable reference that serves multiple purposes…. Edmonds and Houdek have produced a book that will no doubt be an invaluable starting point for any researcher seeking greater insight with regard to any of the nearly 400 accounts referenced herein…enjoyable reference reading…provides unexpected pleasures and fascinating new information on nearly every page”—The Inside Game (SABR Deadball Era Committee Newsletter); “During the past 20 years, books exploring the connection between baseball and the law have become a cottage industry. The genre now has a fine new addition: Baseball Meets the Law: A Chronology of Decisions, Statutes and Other Legal Events. As one might expect from two retired law library directors, the book is a detailed reference guide to the game’s most notable legal developments…. [It] is an ideal gift for anyone interested in baseball law.”—Florida Bar Journal; “Every lawyer with an interest in sports law in general and in baseball in particular should read this book. It belongs in every academic library.”—Unbound: A Review of Legal History and Rarer Books; “If there’s a more complete compilation of the interactions of baseball and the law, I’d like to see it.”—Rick Huhn, Attorney and Baseball Author.

Ed Edmonds is an emeritus professor at the Notre Dame Law School. He retired in 2016 after having served as law library director at William & Mary, Loyola New Orleans, St. Thomas (MN) and Notre Dame. He has written numerous articles on baseball and antitrust and labor law issues. Frank G. Houdek is an emeritus professor at Southern Illinois University School of Law. After serving for 30 years as law library director, professor of law, and associate dean for academic affairs at SIU, he retired in 2014. Since then he has pursued his research and writing interests in both baseball and law.