League of Fans

Founded by Ralph Nader, League of Fans is a sports reform project working to improve sports by increasing awareness of the sports industry's relationship to society, exposing irresponsible business practices, ensuring accountability to fans, and encouraging the industry to contribute to societal well-being.

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Alerts is League of Fans' email announcements list. Alerts provides news, information, the actions of League of Fans and/or Ralph Nader regarding sports issues, and calls-to-action for subscribers. All email updates are either selected or written by League of Fans.

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League of Fans is motivated by people, just like you, who are upset with what has become of our sports and would like to make a difference. We work with concerned citizens, sports fans, civic groups and communities to increase awareness of the sports industry's relationship to society, influence a broad range of issues in sports at all levels and encourage the cooperative capacities that make the "sports powers-that-be" capable of helping, not just dominating, our society and culture.

News / Resources

We often think of sports as outside the realm of everyday citizen concern. But the many benefits to society that sports can provide are sometimes undermined by a different set of values, often based on the quest for higher and higher profits at the expense of fans, taxpayers, communities, culture and social justice.

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Get Involved! Your involvement will improve sports for communities and fans, and encourage the sports industry to better contribute to societal well-being.

Major League Baseball's response to Ralph Nader and League of Fans' letter urging Major League Baseball to adopt worker rights standards for product licensing agreements


Ralph Nader
P.O. Box 19312
Washington, DC 20036

Shawn McCarthy
League of Fans
P.O. Box 19367
Washington, DC 20036

Dear Messrs. Nader and McCarthy:

Commissioner Selig has asked me to respond to your letter of February 10, 2004. At the outset, let me say that the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball (“MLB”) has the greatest respect for employee rights and prides itself on providing its employees with fair compensation and generous employee benefit programs.

Moreover, MLB is concerned about the employment practices of its business partners. Our agreements routinely include provisions that require our partners to comply with applicable laws including those related to employment and work place safety. At the same time, I am sure you understand that we are not in a position to actively regulate the practices of each and every separate company with which we do business.

Commissioner Selig has asked me to contact Rawlings to make inquiry about the issues you have raised. I will do so promptly. In the meantime, if you have any future questions or matters that you want to bring to the attention of MLB, please feel free to contact at the address noted above.

Very truly yours,

Robert D. Manfred, Jr.
Executive Vice President
Labor and Human Resources
Major League Baseball

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Ralph Nader and League of Fans urge Major League Baseball to adopt worker rights standards for product licensing agreements - February 10, 2004

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Ralph Nader and League of Fans Urge Major League Baseball to Adopt Worker Rights Standards for Product Licensing Agreements

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Ralph Nader and League of Fans Urge Major League Baseball to Adopt Worker Rights Standards for Product Licensing Agreements

Full Story