Celebrating 50 Years of Free Agency in Baseball

Celebrating 50 Years of Free Agency in Baseball

Author: KKFI 90.1 FM Kansas City Community Radio March 31, 2026 Duration: 1:00:09
It’s baseball season, and it’s the 50th anniversary of free agency. This week on the Heartland Labor Forum, we’ll look at one of the most successful unions in American labor history – the Major League Baseball Players Association. We’ll talk with Michael Haupert, economics professor and expert on the business of baseball, about the union and the union’s biggest win – free agency for players. Our feature is Safety First with Mary Erio.

Drawn from the archives of the long-running radio program, the Heartland Labor Forum podcast brings you direct, unfiltered conversations about work, power, and the fight for dignity on the job. Produced by KKFI 90.1 FM Kansas City Community Radio, this series stands as the city's sole dedicated program focusing entirely on the workplace. It’s a space where workers' voices take center stage, offering perspectives often missing from mainstream news. Each episode digs into the real stories shaping labor in the Heartland and beyond, from local organizing drives and contract battles to national policy debates that impact everyday lives. You’ll hear from union members, organizers, journalists, and workers in non-unionized settings, all sharing experiences that clarify, motivate, and sometimes rightly anger. This isn't theoretical commentary; it's grounded reporting and analysis that speaks directly to the challenges and triumphs of working people. Tune in for a podcast that cuts through the noise, providing essential listening for anyone who earns a paycheck and wants to understand the forces that shape it. The archive is rich with history and immediacy, ensuring every discussion-whether from last week or last year-remains urgently relevant.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Heartland Labor Forum
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