National Pastime: How Americans Play Baseball and the Rest of the World Plays Soccer [Hardcover]

Stefan Szymanski (Author), Andrew Zimbalist (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2005

This is the story of two great sports. One is "America's game," while the other is "the world's game." Baseball and soccer are both beloved cultural institutions. What draws fans to one game is often a mystery to fans of the other. Despite superficial differences, however, the business and culture of these sports share more in common than meets the eye. This is the first in-depth, cross-cultural comparison of these two great pastimes and the megabusinesses that they have become.In N "ational Pastime, " Stefan Szymanski and Andrew Zimbalist illustrate how the different traditions of each sport have generated different possibilities for their commercial organization and exploitation. They pay special attention to the rich and complex evolution of baseball from its beginnings in America, and they trace modern soccer from its foundation in England through its subsequent expansion across the world. They illustrate how Victorian administrators laid the foundation for Major League Baseball (MLB) and soccer leagues such as the English Premier League, Italy's Serie A, and the European Champions League. The authors show how the organizers of baseball and soccer have learned from each other in the past and how they can continue to do so.Both sports are rich in tradition. In some cases, however, these traditions --often arbitrary rules established by long-defunct administrators --have obstructed the healthy development of the sport. By studying the experiences of other sports, it might be possible to develop new and better ways to operate. For example, soccer might benefit from greater cooperation among teams as in baseball. On the other hand, MLB could learn from soccer's relegation rules and more open system of ownership, thus avoiding some of the excesses (competitive imbalance, uneven team resources) associated with monopoly.Nat "ional Pastime do"es not advocate the jettisoning of all tradition to adopt wholesale the approach of another sport, of course. In an era of globalization, where business interests are increasingly looking to transplant organizational ideas in order to maximize profits, the authors argue that fan-friendly reforms may be necessary in order to avoid something worse. Ultimately, they propose no simple solutions, instead suggesting specific reforms to the organization of baseball and soccer, drawing on each other's experiences. Lively and accessibly written, this book is essential reading for business analysts, journalists, policymakers, and managers of both sports. Most of all, however, it will appeal to baseball and soccer aficionados, whether they root for the New York Yankees, Manchester United, or Real Madrid.

Editorial Reviews

Review

". . . a great deal of fun, written with the understanding of scholars and the passion of fans." -- ALLEN BARRA, Wall Street Journal

"Fascinating reading for fans and sports business industry professionals alike." -- ARNE REES, UEFA Head of Strategy and Business Development

"NATIONAL PASTIME is a revealing look at both sports, detailing everything from economic history to issues of competitive balance." -- KEN ROSENTHAL, Sporting News

"NATIONAL PASTIME is truly wonderful. . ." -- PAUL C. WEILER, Harvard Law School

"Szymanski and Zimbalist wonderfully weave cross-cultural comparisions..." -- JULIE FOUDY, recently retired captain, U.S. Soccer team

"You will be enlightened by this examination . . . by two of the sharpest minds in the field of sports business." -- BOB COSTAS, NBC and HBO Sports

About the Author

Stefan Szymanski is professor of economics and strategy at the Tanaka Business School, Imperial College London, where he specializes in the business and economics of sports. His publications include two books on soccer: Winners and Losers: The Business Strategy of Football (Penguin, 2000) and Il Business del Calcio (Egea, 2004). Andrew Zimbalist is Robert A. Woods Professor of Economics at Smith College. He has published fifteen books and has consulted for players associations, governmental bodies, cities, owners, corporations, and international development organizations. His books include May the Best Team Win: Baseball Economics and Public Policy (Brookings, 2003) and In the Best Interests of Baseball? The Revolutionary Reign of Bud Selig (Wiley, 2006).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 263 pages
• Publisher: Brookings Institution Press; 1st ed edition (April 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0815782586
• ISBN-13: 978-0815782582
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #389,254 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Home run analysis of sports economics, April 5, 2006

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Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: National Pastime: How Americans Play Baseball and the Rest of the World Plays Soccer (Hardcover)

Soccer and baseball enjoy fervent followings and generate wads of cash, so this study of the two games' economics and culture is as welcome as a towering home run (or a nifty goal). Economists Stefan Szymanski and Andrew Zimbalist compare and contrast the two sports' business models in a way that will fascinate anyone who is interested in athletics or international business. The authors offer a fascinating history of these sports, complete with plenty of telling anecdotes that are sure to enlighten even devoted fans. The only gripe is that the writers sometimes bog down in scholarly phrasing when the reader might prefer more active prose. Still, we recommend this intriguing study to anyone who specializes in sports business - or even just buys a ticket to a game now and then.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars excellent for those interested in the Sociology/history of sport, May 15, 2009

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R. J. Pendlebury "robp" (california) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: National Pastime: How Americans Play Baseball and the Rest of the World Plays Soccer (Hardcover)

excellent for those interested in the Sociology/history of sport.
intelligently written but not light reading.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for international sports fans, January 30, 2009

By 

Timphoto (Leixlip, Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: National Pastime: How Americans Play Baseball and the Rest of the World Plays Soccer (Hardcover)

I loved this book. It covers what may seem like some fairly obscure history on the origins of soccer and baseball, but it is fascinating to look at the various social forces that have led to these dominant athletic events.
It addresses a lot of material, including class distinctions, labour rights, unbridled capitalism that adopts regulations to save itself, and national pride.
It is very clever for the authors to make such a readable and indeed entertaining book while still presenting the very serious issues that influenced these "games."