CA Bill Would Establish Minor League Baseball 'Bill Of Rights'

CALIFORNIA — A bill introduced by state Sen. Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park) would create a “Bill of Rights” for minor league baseball players, allowing players to have control over their own name, image and likeness and reducing the number of years of team control from seven to four.

Senate Bill 1248 — introduced the same day that a federal judge ruled that minor leaguers are year-round employees — would further reimagine the minor league baseball landscape and grant rights to players that advocates say are long overdue.

Becker, a baseball fan who has shared San Francisco Giants season tickets since Oracle Park opened, told Patch that he didn’t know the extent of the challenges that players face until one of his aides told him about friends struggling through the minor league system.

“And I just said, ‘You know, this is wrong. We got to do something,’” Becker said.

The bill targets “some of the most egregious pieces” of the relationship between minor league players and their teams, according to Becker.

Under current regulations, minor league players can’t use their own names, likeness or images for promotional purposes. They are also bound by contract to their MLB team for seven years before becoming a free agent, where they can seek a more lucrative contract.

The bill would give players who live or play in California protection under the state’s wage law. Most minor league players make less than $12,000 a year, which is below the federal poverty line of $13,590, according to Becker’s office. They are also not paid for overtime work such as spring training.

“If you're employed in California or live in California, you should be subject to California laws,” Becker said.

Becker saw similarities between his bill and the movement to grant college athletes the right to profit their own name, image and likeness — which also began with legislation in California in 2019.

“That’s why I'm so grateful to be able to work in the legislature in California because we do things, whether it be climate change or something like this, that can affect the rest of the country,” Becker said.

SB 1248 has the support of Advocates for Minor Leaguers, a group fighting for better conditions for minor league baseball players. Harry Marino, the organization’s executive director, said in a statement that the bill is a sign that people are paying attention to the treatment of minor leaguers.

“For decades, MLB’s billionaire owners have conspired to exploit Minor League players, forcing each player to sign the same unconscionable uniform player contract,” Marino said. “We applaud Senator Becker for championing this common-sense reform of America’s pastime.”

Joe Hudson, a minor league player who is on the steering committee of Advocates for Minor Leaguers, said in a statement that low wages nearly drove him to retirement.

“As a Minor League free agent, I've been able to make enough money to support my family year-round and live my dream of being a professional baseball player,” Hudson said. “This bill would allow more Minor Leaguers to be paid a fair wage sooner in their careers, and I strongly support it. It's good for the players, and good for the long-term health of our game.”

In a statement, MLB said its 30 teams have focused on "addressing longstanding issues that have impacted minor League players for decades" during the first season of the modernized player development system. Teams have increased minor leaguers' salaries, improved facilities, provided more amenities and better clubhouse conditions, according to MLB.

“Ahead of the second season, we have adopted a new housing policy that is expected to provide more than 90% of assigned minor league players across every level with furnished housing accommodations at each major league club’s expense beginning with the 2022 season," the MLB statement continued. "The clubs are confident that these investments will help ensure that minor league players have every opportunity to achieve their dreams of becoming major leaguers.”

Becker admitted that the bill faces a long road ahead, with at least seven committees to get through in the state legislature. He’s up against what he described as the “entrenched interest” of baseball owners, who could potentially react to the legislation by pulling their teams from playing in California — a scenario Becker doesn’t believe is likely but is a “small risk.”

But with attention increasing on treatment of minor league players, Becker believes that things are trending in the right direction. The bill has potential to garner bipartisan votes, with at least one Republican state assemblymember already signaling support, according to Becker.

“I think it's going to be a fight each step of the way,” Becker said. “I hope that my bill is the catalyst that is needed here to really make significant changes.”