Minor Leagues

This article uses an extensive unique data set to investigate the efficiency of government subsides for minor league baseball teams and stadiums by measuring pecuniary gains in a local economy. Specifically, a dynamic panel data model incorporating
238 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) that hosted affiliated or independent minor league teams between 1985 and 2006 shows that AAA teams, A+ teams, AA stadiums, and rookie stadiums are all associated with significant positive effects on the change in local per capita income. The presence of positive effects is
strikingly different from decades of nonpositive results at the major league level.

Considerable time has been spent on identifying the demand determinants in major league sports.  Much less attention has focused on minor league baseball despite its unique business structure: with free inputs provided by strategic alliance partners, minor league teams rely more heavily on their home stadiums, promotions, local brand, and partnerships with Major League clubs to generate demand. This conceptual research first defines the characteristics of minor league baseball that make it unique from demand in Major League Baseball. Next, it discusses theoretical demand determinants and provides a review of empirical results.  It concludes by identifying the problems in current MiLB demand modelling and offers suggestions for improvements and future research. (JEL L83, D11, Z21)

Agha and Taks define minor sport events and teams and explain the different approaches to measuring impact. They present theoretical models and provide empirical examples of economic impact of minor sport events and leagues. They end the chapter with recommendations for future research.

This article uses an extensive unique data set to investigate the efficiency of government subsides for minor league baseball teams and stadiums by measuring pecuniary gains in a local economy. Specifically, a dynamic panel data model incor-porating 238 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) that hosted affiliated or inde-pendent minor league teams between 1985 and 2006 shows that AAA teams, Aþ teams, AA stadiums, and rookie stadiums are all associated with significant positive effects on the change in local per capita income. The presence of positive effects is strikingly different from decades of nonpositive results at the major league level.

Background
In North America, more than 800,000 youth are registered in organized ice hockey leagues. Despite the many benefits of involvement, young players are at significant risk for injury. Body-checking and aggressive play are associated with high frequency of game-related injury including concussion. We conducted a qualitative study to understand why youth ice hockey players engage in aggressive, injury-prone behaviours on the ice.
Methods
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 61 minor ice hockey participants, including male and female players, parents, coaches, trainers, managers and a game official. Players were aged 13–15 playing on competitive body checking teams or on non-body checking
teams. Interviews were manually transcribed, coded and analyzed for themes relating to aggressive play in minor ice hockey.
Results
Parents, coaches, teammates and the media exert a large influence on player behavior. Aggressive behavior is often reinforced by the player’s social environment and justified by players to demonstrate loyalty to teammates and especially injured teammates by seeking revenge particularly in competitive, body-checking leagues. Among female and male players in non-body checking organizations, aggressive play is not reinforced by the social environment. These findings are discussed within the framework of social identity theory and social learning theory, in order to understand players’ need to seek revenge and how the social environment reinforces aggressive behaviors.

In this episode, we get a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the world of US professional baseball. Nathan speaks with Dirk Hayhurst, a former Major League Baseball pitcher with the Toronto Blue Jays and San Diego Padres, as well as a long-time Minor Leaguer. He is a former Sportsnet and TBS broadcaster and the author of four books: The Bullpen Gospels, Out of My League, Wild Pitches, and Bigger than the Game. 

Nathan and Dirk discuss the preposterously poor working conditions in Minor League Baseball, why players endure those conditions, and how the world of US baseball reproduces the logic of the American Dream. Dirk also explains how he lied his way into getting drafted and reveals a never-before-told story about how the rampant sexual harassment and misogyny of the locker room extends into broadcasting.