Baltimore Goes to Trial, Again

Abstract

This chapter examines the Baltimore Federals' lawsuit, this time filed in Washington's federal district court, against organized baseball. Baltimore separated its case into two separate antitrust claims, one alleging that organized baseball had illegally monopolized—or attempted to monopolize—the baseball industry following the formation of the National Agreement in 1903, and the other focusing on the major leagues' conspiracy to destroy the Federal League, ultimately culminating in the peace agreement of 1915. The team asserted that organized baseball's activities violated not only federal antitrust law but also the common law of monopoly and conspiracy. This chapter first considers the Baltimore Federals' settlement negotiations with organized baseball in 1917 before discussing each party's legal representation in the case, opening statements, and the plaintiff's witness testimony.