MLB Has Taken Over A Franchise Before

I probably don't even have to explain the Dodgers situation to any fan of baseball who has paid any attention in the last year and a half.  Frank McCourt got involved in a nasty divorce, in which his team's financial state has gone to shambles.  Bud Selig and MLB announced that they had to take over the club and its day-to-day operations earlier this season.

It was announced that the Dodgers had no chance of making their payroll for June.  It was also announced that MLB blocked the Dodgers from signing a television deal that would have given the Dodgers the much needed cash to continue on under Frank McCourt.

Rumors abound as to the reasoning of MLB's sudden stake in this great franchise.  Some people think Bud Selig is just a megalomaniac, bent on control of "his" league in every facet.  Others suggest that MLB is just doing their job, protecting their clubs and players for the goodness of the game.  One of the more far-reaching conspiracy theories is that MLB is trying to force out McCourt so that they can sell the club to an owner who will move the Dodgers back to Brooklyn.

Whatever the reasoning, MLB is currently in operation of the Dodgers.  I saw a sportswriter on ESPN's Sportscenter simply state that they have NEVER seen this kind of takeover of a club by a league ever.  I can see where a person would think this is an extraordinary circumstance that has surely never occurred before.  However, it has in a similar way and under similar circumstances.  Just ask the Phillies.

Coming into the 1942 season, the Phillies had been owned for the last ten seasons by Gerald Nugent.  It had been a rocky ten seasons, in which Nugent tried unsuccessfully to take the Phillies out of the NL basement.  He wanted to win more than save money, but didn't have the finances to do so.  After having to trade most of his talent to save the payroll, in 1941 his nightmare was fully realized.  The 1941 Phillies finished dead last, with a franchise worst record of 43-111.

When the 1942 season began, Nugent had to borrow money just to be able to go into Spring Training.  That was the last straw for MLB.  The Phillies were sold back to the league in February 1943.  The league later sold the club to William Cox, who would be banned from baseball before the 1944 season for betting on the team.

MLB has taken over a team before for lack of money to meet payroll and operating costs.  Although rare, the process by which MLB obtains a franchise to save it from insolvency has occurred in the past.  With McCourt's troubles, MLB was basically forced to intervene.  The divorce left McCourt in a bad spot, and the league has grown tired of his troubles involving the team.

In the case of the Phillies, their sale in the early 40's lead (eventually) to owner Bob Carpenter Jr. taking the Phillies to short-lived glory in 1950 with the "Whiz Kids" team that included future HOFs Robin Roberts and Richie Ashburn.  Carpenter Jr bought the team after Cox was banned for gambling.  MLB needs to find a good owner for the Dodgers, but in my opinion, an owner who will keep the Dodgers in L.A.

Well, Carpenter was responsible for this; but fans forgave him in 1950.

I think it would be as bad for baseball to move the Dodgers to Brooklyn now, as it was to move the Dodgers from Brooklyn in 1958.  Although the circumstances of the first move was about obtaining land for a new park, there are no such related issues with the team in 2011.  The new owner should keep the Dodgers put because they already have built a loyal fan base, which will probably turn on the team if relocated.

MLB has tried to downplay rumors that they would sell to an owner who would move the team, but the rumor still persists.  The Dodgers have something special in the City of Angels.  They have one of the largest markets in the country devoted to one team (Who are the Angels kidding?  No matter what their name says, they play in Anaheim) and one team only.  Notably, they have a large Hispanic population who will always buy merchandise and stick with the team, as long as they remain in L.A.

MLB got it right in the 40's with the Phillies (eventually), and hopefully MLB will get it right with the Dodgers.  They need a solvent owner, who will spend money to build a winner, and will keep the team in L.A.  A perfect candidate would be Mark Cuban.  He has stated that he would be willing to purchase the team "if they are fixable." He would be great for the game.  Give him a shot MLB, don't deny him again.