[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 44 (Monday, November 2, 1998)]
[Pages 2150-2151]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Signing the Curt Flood Act of 1998

October 27, 1998

    Today I am pleased to have signed into law S. 53, the ``Curt Flood 
Act of 1998.'' This legislation is the successful culmination of 
bipartisan efforts to treat employment matters with respect to Major 
League Baseball players under the antitrust laws in the same way such 
matters are treated for athletes in other professional sports.
    It is especially fitting that this legislation honors a courageous 
baseball player and individual, the late Curt Flood, whose enormous 
talents on the baseball diamond were matched by his courage off the 
field. It was 29 years ago this month that Curt Flood refused a trade 
from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Philadelphia Phillies. His bold 
stand set in motion the events that culminate in the bill I have signed 
into law.
    The Act appropriately limits baseball's special judicially created 
antitrust exemption by expressly applying the antitrust laws to certain 
conduct of Major League Baseball; the applicability of the antitrust 
laws with respect to all other conduct is unchanged. The Act in no way 
codifies or extends the baseball exemption and would not affect the 
applicability of those laws to certain matters that, it has been argued, 
the exemption would legitimately protect (including franchise relocation 
rules and the minor leagues).
    The Act does not in any way limit the standing of the United States 
to bring an antitrust action. The antitrust laws protect the public's 
interest in the efficient operation of the free market system, thereby 
protecting consumers, and the United States has standing to sue to 
enjoin all violations.
    It is sound policy to treat the employment matters of Major League 
Baseball players under the antitrust laws in the same way such matters 
are treated for athletes in other professional sports.
                                            William J. Clinton
The White House,
October 27, 1998.

Note: S. 53, approved October 27, was assigned Public Law No. 105-297. 
An original was not available for verification of the content of this 
statement.

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