Baseball has a new labor agreement.
Savor those words. Relish in them. Let them roll off your tongue.
For the first time in my life as a fan, Baseball has its house in order. There will be no talk of strikes, except on the batters. Lockouts? Not this year! Horrible, petty wrangling between millionaires and billionaires? None, thanks. They all did their jobs this time, and with two months to spare before the old agreement expires.
I am not a fan of Bud Selig. Everyone who has had the burden of discussing the former used car salesman with me knows that. But this time, he got it right. It isn't the first time, but it is without question, the biggest.
The Game could have died in the winter of 1994-1995. The players went out in August, and Bud canceled the World Series. For the first time since John McGraw was scared of the Boston Red Sox in 1904, there was no end to the season. World War One didn't stop the Series. Neither did WWII, nor Korea, nor Viet Nam, nor strikes or lockouts, until 1994. Had it not been for Cal Ripken, Jr., The Game might never have recovered. His pursuit of the Iron Horse captured the nation, and brought everyone back. His victory lap around Camden Yards upon the occasion of 2,131 might as well have been a victory lap celebrating the recovery of Baseball.
It is resilient, the summer Game. And with Cal showing the way, it came all the way back. This year, again, attendance records were set. Revenues reached all-time highs. Life is good for Baseball.
There would have been no return had they messed it up again. Finally, we have seen good stewardship on the part of those entrusted with this glorious tradition. They recognized that they could actually kill the golden goose, but that there was no reason to do it. We will spend the winter rehashing Ryan Howard and David Ortiz, Zumaya and Papelbon, when Glavine's 300th will come, and an amazing postseason. And not one word about the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Until 2011!
Thanks, Bud! And Bob. And Don and Gene. You did good. For all of us.
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