The Game: Inside the Secret World of Major League Baseball's Power Brokers

The Game chronicles Major League Baseball during the 1990s and early 2000s through the intertwined stories of three key figures: Commissioner Bud Selig, Players Union head Don Fehr, and Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. The book covers pivotal events including the 1994 players' strike, steroid scandals, revenue sharing battles, and the Yankees' dynasty years. Author Jon Pessah gained access to hundreds of insiders and documents to reconstruct the behind-the-scenes power struggles that shaped baseball during this transformative era. Through extensive research and interviews, Pessah details the complex negotiations, political maneuvering, and personality clashes that influenced decisions about baseball's future. The narrative moves between boardrooms, clubhouses, and owners' meetings to show how the business of baseball evolved. At its core, this is an examination of how money, power, and competing interests reshaped America's pastime during a period of unprecedented change and challenge for the sport. The book raises questions about baseball's soul and who truly controls the game.

Readers describe this as a detailed account of MLB's business operations and power dynamics during the Selig-Steinbrenner era, focusing on labor relations, steroids, and television deals. Readers appreciated: - Behind-the-scenes revelations about MLB ownership and operations - Clear explanations of complex business dealings and labor disputes - Research depth and level of detail - Balanced portrayal of key figures Common criticisms: - Too long and dense for casual baseball fans - Excessive focus on business aspects over gameplay - Some repetitive sections - Complex cast of characters can be hard to follow Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (276 ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (116 ratings) Reader quote: "Reads like a political thriller about baseball's boardrooms rather than a sports book" - Amazon reviewer Most readers recommend it for those interested in baseball's business side rather than fans seeking on-field stories or player profiles.

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🎯 Author Jon Pessah was a founding editor of ESPN The Magazine and spent over 40 years covering baseball as a journalist. ⚾ The book reveals how Bud Selig's ascent to MLB Commissioner began when he purchased the Seattle Pilots for $10.8 million in 1970 and moved them to Milwaukee. 💰 During the period covered in the book (1992-2010), MLB's annual revenue grew from $1.2 billion to $7 billion, largely through Selig's strategies. ⚡ The work details the contentious relationship between Players Association leader Donald Fehr and Commissioner Bud Selig, including their roles in the 1994-95 strike that canceled the World Series. 📺 The book exposes how MLB's resistance to revenue sharing and salary caps differed significantly from the NFL's approach, which helped football surpass baseball as America's most popular sport.