Major League Baseball has been in crisis in recent years. Game attendance is down by millions and fan interest is in free fall. The future of the game is in jeopardy. While the League acknowledges the issues, many are stumped as to how to address them. This book explores in detail the critical challenges facing MLB, and their ramifications, along with some potential solutions. Interviews with baseball insiders, players to executives, give a perspective on baseball’s struggle to reinvent itself for future generations.

Larry Hausner is a former sportscaster turned educator. He was the host and producer for Sports Spotlight, a weekly television show on SportsChannel, and is a former radio play-by-play announcer for numerous minor league teams. He is an associate professor of education at the University of Southern California.

Larry Hausner
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 208
Bibliographic Info: bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2024
pISBN: 978-1-4766-8992-0
eISBN: 978-1-4766-5066-1
Imprint: McFarland

Preface 1
Introduction 13
1. Declining Attendance 19
2. America’s Pastime in Recession 51
3. Withering Fan Experience 78
4. Pace of Play 97
5. Generation Lost 119
6. Weakening Youth Participation 135
7. Major League Baseball’s Brand 153
8. Labor Negotiation Strife 170
9. Save Situation 181
Bibliography 189
Index 199