Eddie Brown: Baseball’s labor war is coming, and nostalgia won’t save it Eddie Brown, The San Diego Union-Tribune Jun 3, 2026 7 hrs ago 0 The San Diego Padres play host to the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park on May 19 2026, in San Diego. (K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS) K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Eddie Brown, The San Diego Union-Tribune SAN DIEGO — I’m not sure baseball can call itself America’s pastime anymore.kAmp>6C:42’D >:CC@C :D AC@323=J >@C6 244FC2E6]k^AmkAmx7 @?6 H6C6 =@@<:?8 7@C 2 DA@CED =628F6 E92E >@DE 72:E97F==J C67=64ED E96 >@56C? &?:E65 $E2E6D — :ED DEC2E:7:42E:@?[ :ED C:EF2=D @7 D6=7\;FDE:7:42E:@?[ :ED C6>2C<23=6 E2=6?E 7@C 5C6DD:?8 :?6BF2=:EJ :? E96 =2?8F286 @7 EC25:E:@? — |2;@C {628F6 q2D632== H@F=5 36 92C5 E@ 362E]k^AmkAmxE @776CD E96 ?@DE2=8:2[ E96 >JE9@=@8J[ E96 C68:@?2= AC:56[ E96 D6A:2\E@?65 C6G6C6?46 7@C “D:>A=6C” E:>6D]k^Am kAmxE C6>2:?D[ @? E96 DFC7246[ 2 82>6 @7 A2DE@C2= 492C> 2?5 56>@4C2E:4 :>286CJ] %96 2??F2= C62DDFC2?46 E92E 6G6CJ E62> 368:?D 2E _\_[ E92E A@DD:3:=:EJ :D C6?6H23=6[ E92E 9@A6 C6EFC?D 6G6CJ DAC:?8]k^Am People are also reading… Nearly all Great American State Fair acts drop out 2 Friday games announced for Iowa State 2026 football schedule Youth baseball coach gets lifetime ban for viral incident Hutchens: Is Ames, Iowa a food desert as Matt Campbell suggested? The difference you'll notice on Iowa State's roster — and what will stay the same These best burgers in America are worth a road trip Lebanon announces partial ceasefire between Israel, Hezbollah but attacks continue Iowa State's simple reason for turning down $30 million Big 12 credit A $15 million stadium? What reviving baseball would cost Iowa State, Northern Iowa Kyle Busch death certificate reveals new details on driver's cause of death Botched Tennessee execution sparks US death row debate Judge allows Trump to implement mail-in voting executive order Memorial Wall dedication marks America 250 at Dow City Cemetery "I'm not wired that way" Fennelly didn't consider retirement this offseason Will Trump appear on $250 bill? Treasury appointees are pushing for it kAm%96? J@F D66 E96 A2JC@== 5:DA2C:EJ[ 2?5 E96 72:CJ E2=6 DE2CED =62<:?8 @:=]k^AmkAmp 92?57F= @7 7C2?49:D6D @A6C2E6 H:E9 E96 4@?7:56?46 @7 D@G6C6:8? H62=E9 7F?5D] ~E96CD 6IA=2:?[ H:E9 2 DEC2:89E 7246[ E92E DF49 2>3:E:@? :D D:>A=J ?@E A@DD:3=6]k^AmkAm%92E :D H9J %9FCD52J 76=E =6DD =:<6 E96 368:??:?8 @7 2 ?68@E:2E:@? E92? E96 @A6?:?8 36== 7@C 32D632==’D ?6IE =23@C H2C]k^Am kAm|{q AC6D6?E65 E96 !=2J6CD pDD@4:2E:@? H:E9 :ED 7:CDE @77:4:2= D2=2CJ 42A AC@A@D2= D:?46 `hhc[ 2?5 E96 F?:@? C6;64E65 :E 2=>@DE :>>65:2E6=J]k^Am kAm%96 AC@A@D2= C6A@CE65=J :?4=F565 2 Sacd]b >:==:@? D2=2CJ 42A E92E H@F=5 7@C46 6:89E E62>D E@ =@H6C A2JC@==[ A2:C65 H:E9 2 S`f`]a >:==:@? 7=@@C E92E H@F=5 C6BF:C6 `a E62>D E@ DA6?5 >@C6]k^Am kAm~? A2A6C[ E92E D@F?5D =:<6 2 8C2?5 32C82:?i E96 C:496DE E62>D AF==65 5@H?[ E96 4962A6DE E62>D AFD965 FA[ 6G6CJ@?6 >66E:?8 36?62E9 2 32??6C C625:?8 |:DD:@? p44@>A=:D965]k^Am kAmx? AC24E:46[ E96 F?:@? 962C5 E96 H@C5 “42A” 2?5 C624965 7@C 2 7=2>6E9C@H6C]k^AmkAm!=2J6CD 92G6 7@F89E D2=2CJ 42AD 7@C 86?6C2E:@?D 3642FD6 E96J <?@H H92E @H?6CD FDF2==J H2?E E@ 42A] }@E E:4<6E AC:46D] }@E 7C2?49:D6 G2=F6D] }@E AC@7:ED]k^AmkAm$2=2C:6D]k^AmkAmq2D632==’D @H?6CD 2C6 ?@E HC@?8 E@ :56?E:7J E96 AC@3=6>] !2JC@== 5:DA2C:EJ 92D 364@>6 23DFC5] x? a_ad[ E96 2G6C286 A2JC@== @7 |{q’D E@A 7:G6 DA6?56CD H2D 2=>@DE 7:G6 E:>6D E92E @7 E96 3@EE@> 7:G6[ E96 H:56DE 82A E96 DA@CE 92D C64@C565 D:?46 2E =62DE `hgd]k^Am kAmqFE E96 F?:@? :D ?@E HC@?8 E@ 42== E9:D 2 4@A\@FE[ 6:E96C]k^AmkAmr@>A6E:E:G6 32=2?46 :D 2 4@?G6?:6?E D6C>@? 7C@> @H?6CD H9@ E@@ @7E6? EC62E 4@?E6?E:@? 2D @AE:@?2=]k^AmkAmq@E9 E9:?8D 42? 36 ECF6]k^Am kAmq2D632== 92D 2 >@?6J AC@3=6>] xE 2=D@ 92D 2? @H?6CD9:A\677@CE AC@3=6>]k^AmkAm(:E9 2 ?6H 86?6C2E:@? @7 @H?6CD EC62E:?8 7C2?49:D6D =6DD =:<6 4:G:4 ECFDED E92? 2 A2CE @7 E96:C C62= 6DE2E6 A@CE7@=:@[ |{q <?@HD E9:D >2J 36 :ED 36DE 2?5 A6C92AD =2DE 492?46 E@ D64FC6 E96 42A :E 92D H2?E65 7@C 564256D] %96 F?:@? <?@HD E92E[ E@@]k^Am kAm%96 4FCC6?E =23@C 562= 6IA:C6D 2E >:5?:89E s64] `] &?=6DD D@>6E9:?8 5C2>2E:4 492?86D[ 32D632== :D 962565 7@C 2?@E96C =@4<@FE] sFC:?8 E96 a_a` E2=<D[ |{q 7=@2E65 2 S`g_ >:==:@? =FIFCJ\E2I DJDE6> H:E9 2 S`__ >:==:@? 7=@@C] %96 F?:@? C6;64E65 :E] |{q :>A@D65 2 =@4<@FE E92E =2DE65 hh 52JD]k^AmkAmx? >2?J H2JD[ 32D632== 92D @?46 282:? 364@>6 2 A2C23=6 7@C E96 286[ ?@E 3642FD6 D@>6 E62>D H:? 2?5 @E96CD =@D6[ 3FE 3642FD6 @7 E96 E96@=@8J 3F:=E 2C@F?5 :E]k^AmkAm%96 DJDE6> :D 564=2C65 >@DE=J D@F?5] %96 DECF88=:?8 2C6 3=2>65 7@C E96:C @H? AC65:42>6?E] %96 A6@A=6 36?67:E:?8 >@DE 7C@> E96 2CC2?86>6?E 2D< E@ 36 ECFDE65 H:E9 :ED C6A2:C[ 6G6? 2D 6G6CJ :?DE:?4E D2JD E96J 2C6 E96 AC@3=6>]k^Am kAmx? E96 3C@256C 64@?@>J[ H62=E9 92D DA6?E 564256D A@@=:?8 2E E96 E@A =:<6 C2:?H2E6C :? 2 3C@<6? 8FEE6C] p E:?J D=:G6C @7 A6@A=6 @H? 2? 2=>@DE 42CE@@?:D9 D92C6 @7 6G6CJE9:?8]k^Am Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | RSS Feed | Omny Studio | All Of Our Podcasts kAm%96 }2E:@?2= u@@E32== {628F6[ 7@C 2== :ED 7=2HD[ F?56CDE2?5D E96 4@>>6C4:2= ?646DD:EJ @7 2AAC@I:>2E:?8 72:C?6DD] #6G6?F6 :D D92C65 ?2E:@?2==J] !2JC@== :D 4@?DEC2:?65 3J 2 92C5 42A 2?5 2 DA6?5:?8 7=@@C] q25 E62>D 2C6 8:G6? >6492?:D>D E@ C64@G6C[ ?@E =64EFC6D 23@FE 3@@EDEC2AD]k^Am kAmw@A6 :D C2E:@?65 @FE H:E9 >:=:E2CJ AC64:D:@?]k^Am kAm%96 }u{ 5@6D ?@E =62G6 A2C:EJ E@ 492?46] xE 92C5H:C6D :E :?E@ E96 DJDE6>] p?5 72?D =@G6 :E]k^Am kAm(6 =@G6 4@>A6?D2E@CJ A:4<D] (6 =@G6 7@C>F=2D E92E 86?6C2E6 =2DE\A=246 D4965F=6D] (6 =@G6 E96 :562 E92E 2 E62> 42? 8@ 7C@> c\`b E@ 52?86C@FD 3J ?6IE %92?<D8:G:?8 :7 :E 86ED E96 BF2CE6C324< C:89E]k^AmkAm%96 }u{ :D ?@E ?@3=6] xE :D 2 G2DE 4@>>6C4:2= >249:?6 3F:=E @? DA64E24=6[ G:@=6?46 2?5 D2EFC2E:@?] qFE E96 =628F6 92D 7:8FC65 @FE E92E 2 72? 32D6 ?665D 2 4C65:3=6 A2E9 7@CH2C5]k^Am kAmu2?D 42? DE@>249 2 C63F:=5] (6 42? 23D@C3 5:D2AA@:?E>6?E] (6 42? 6G6? H2:E @FE :?4@>A6E6?46 :7 E96C6 :D 2 36=:6G23=6 A2E9 7@CH2C5] (92E H6 C6;64E[ 6G6?EF2==J[ :D E96 DFDA:4:@? E92E E96 4@?E6DE H2D ?6G6C 72:C E@ 368:? H:E9]k^AmkAm%96 DA@CE E92E >@DE C6D6>3=6D @FC 64@?@>J :? DECF4EFC6 2?5 E@?6 :D E96 @?6 =@D:?8 4F=EFC2= 8C@F?5] %96 DA@CE E92E 5@6D >@C6 E@ C6DEC2:? :>32=2?46[ 9@H6G6C :>A6C764E=J[ <66AD E:89E6?:?8 :ED 8C:A @? E96 ?2E:@?2= :>28:?2E:@?]k^Am kAm(6 5:D=:<6 :?6BF2=:EJ :? E96@CJ[ E@=6C2E6 :E :? AC24E:46[ 2?5 @7E6? D66> E@ C6D6?E :ED 4@?D6BF6?46D D=:89E=J =6DD E92? H6 C6D6?E 2?J AC@A@D65 C6>65J] (6 H@CD9:A H62=E9[ C6D6?E H62=E9 2?5 AC@E64E H62=E9[ @7E6? :? E96 D2>6 6=64E:@? 4J4=6]k^Am kAmp?5 J6E H96? E96 DF3;64E EFC?D E@ 7@@E32==[ E96 D2>6 4@F?ECJ 364@>6D C6>2C<23=J 4=62C\6J65]k^AmkAm$F556?=J[ E96 AF3=:4 F?56CDE2?5D E96 G2=F6 @7 C65:DEC:3FE:@?] $F556?=J[ 8F2C5C2:=D 2C6 ?@E EJC2??J 3FE 4@>>@? D6?D6] $F556?=J[ E96C6 :D 3C@25 6?E9FD:2D> 7@C DJDE6>D E92E <66A E96 A@H6C7F= 7C@> 9@2C5:?8 2== 2G2:=23=6 25G2?E286D]k^AmkAm!=246 E96D6 :562D :?D:56 2? }u{ 96=>6E 2?5 E96J 364@>6 ?@E @?=J 2446AE23=6 3FE 36=@G65]k^Am kAm!FE 2 r@H3@JD =@8@ @? 4@?46?EC2E65 42A:E2= 2?5 92=7 E96 4@F?ECJ EFC?D :?E@ z2C= |2CI]k^Am kAm(6 2C6 C6>2C<23=J 2=:8?65 @? E96 AC@A@D:E:@? E92E y6CCJ y@?6D D9@F=5 ?@E 36 A6C>:EE65 E@ 3FJ 6G6CJ 6=:E6 A2DD CFD96C D:>A=J 3642FD6 96 766=D =:<6 :E]k^AmkAmq2D632== DE:== 92D 362FEJ] ~4E@36C DE:== 4C24<=6D] p DF>>6C ?:89E 2E !6E4@ !2C< 42? DE:== 766= =:<6 2? @=5 D@?8 J@F 7@C8@E J@F =@G65]k^AmkAmqFE E96 3FD:?6DD @7 32D632==n !=62D6]k^AmkAm%96 r@>A6E:E:G6 q2=2?46 %2I :D ?@E 2 8F2C5C2:=] xE :D 2 4@?4:6C86] %96 s@586CD DA6?5 =:<6 E96J 7@F?5 8@=5 36?62E9 r92G6K #2G:?6]k^Am kAm$@ 96C6 H6 8@[ 324< E@H2C5 32D632==’D =62DE 492C>:?8 EC25:E:@?i 2 =23@C H2C 7F== @7 C96E@C:4[ C6D6?E>6?E 2?5 3:==:@?2:C6\G6CDFD\>:==:@?2:C6 E962E6C]k^Am kAm~H?6CD H:== D2J E9:D :D 23@FE 8:G:?8 6G6CJ >2C<6E 9@A6] !=2J6CD H:== :?D:DE :E :D 23@FE D6:K:?8 4@?EC@=]k^AmkAm%96 72==@FE H:== =:<6=J AC@5F46 6?@F89 9@DE:=:EJ E@ D@FC ?6IE DF>>6C[ 2?5 E96 E:>:?8 4@F=5 92C5=J 36 >@C6 @? E96 ?@D6]k^AmkAmq2D632== :D 23@FE E@ 2C8F6 @G6C A2JC@== :?6BF2=:EJ H9:=6 E96 C6DE @7 E96 4@F?ECJ 2C8F6D @G6C C6?E[ 8C@46C:6D[ H286D 2?5 82D AC:46D]k^Am kAm%96 }u{ 3@82CED E96 42=6?52C 3642FD6[ 2AA2C6?E=J[ :E F?56CDE2?5D E96 @?6 E9:?8 6G6CJ DEC2:?65 9@FD69@=5[ AC:465\@FE C6?E6C 2?5 7CFDEC2E65 72? F?56CDE2?5Di w@A6 >2EE6CD >@DE H96? @AA@CEF?:EJ 766=D D42C46]k^Am kAmv:G6 A6@A=6 2 C62= 492?46[ @C D@>6E9:?8 4=@D6 6?@F89 E@ 36=:6G6 :?[ 2?5 E96 >@?6J E2<6D 42C6 @7 :ED6=7]k^AmkAmq2D632== <66AD 24E:?8 =:<6 ?@DE2=8:2 42? 5@ E96 D2>6 ;@3]k^AmkAmxE 42?’E]k^Am kAm}@DE2=8:2 :D H92E J@F D6== H96? E96 AC6D6?E DE:?<D]k^Am 0 Comments Related to this story Most Popular Kyle Busch death certificate reveals new details on driver's cause of death Busch's death certificate revealed that he had been battling bacterial pneumonia for “days to weeks” before he died May 21 of natural causes. Doctor explains the complication that made Kyle Busch’s illness deadly Kyle Busch won a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race one week before he died. He was 41 years old, by all appearances healthy, and then he was … Inside the NBA and WNBA's booming player-to-broadcast pipeline While athletes in tennis and even the NFL have double dipped in broadcasting and playing, the trend of active player contributors continues to… MLB fans should brace for lockout as owners throw down the gauntlet in labor war The Major League Baseball Players' Association braced their players for years this would be coming, and there it was Thursday, presented in bl… Watch Now: Related Video 'We found a way tonight' - Tortorella on Vegas' win in epic Stanley Cup Final opener. Celine Boutier grants child's wish, wins 2026 ShopRite LPGA Celine Boutier grants child's wish, wins 2026 ShopRite LPGA Serena Williams makes her tennis return after nearly four years Serena Williams makes her tennis return after nearly four years Top 10 Clutch Moments In Super Bowl History | #superbowl Top 10 Clutch Moments In Super Bowl History | #superbowl Recommended for you
Kyle Busch death certificate reveals new details on driver's cause of death Busch's death certificate revealed that he had been battling bacterial pneumonia for “days to weeks” before he died May 21 of natural causes.
Doctor explains the complication that made Kyle Busch’s illness deadly Kyle Busch won a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race one week before he died. He was 41 years old, by all appearances healthy, and then he was …
Inside the NBA and WNBA's booming player-to-broadcast pipeline While athletes in tennis and even the NFL have double dipped in broadcasting and playing, the trend of active player contributors continues to…
MLB fans should brace for lockout as owners throw down the gauntlet in labor war The Major League Baseball Players' Association braced their players for years this would be coming, and there it was Thursday, presented in bl…
