HARRISBURG, PA — Attorney General Michelle Henry joined a bipartisan group of 17 state Attorneys General in urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider an exemption that has allowed Major League Baseball (MLB) to disaffiliate 40 minor league teams, including Pennsylvania’s Williamsport Crosscutters and State College Spikes.
The century-old exemption frees MLB from adhering to state and federal antitrust laws. In 2020, this led MLB to cut ties with 40 minor league affiliates, a move critics argue stifles competition and would be illegal under standard antitrust regulations. The case, Tri-City Valleycats, Inc. and Oneonta Athletic Corporation v. The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball, challenges these disaffiliations.
“In any other business, these actions would be considered illegal,” said Attorney General Henry. “Sporting events and venues are more than entertainment; they are economic drivers, and the impact of these cuts is felt widely.”
The coalition submitted an amicus brief advocating for the high court to overturn the long-standing exemption.
The brief argues that the exemption contradicts the intentions of Congress and inhibits enforcement of state antitrust laws. It also emphasizes the economic and cultural importance of minor league baseball to communities across the country.
In Pennsylvania alone, eight minor league teams attract thousands of spectators to games and events annually.