- Saving Major League Baseball (From Itself)- 

“This is a must-read for anyone who loves the game and wants to understand the financial workings of MLB.” —Sam Zygner, author of Baseball Under the Palms and The Forgotten Marlins

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For fans of the national pastime, the current state of Major League Baseball feels like a “used, high-mileage 1964 Mustang”—iconic and beloved, yet rattling toward a scrapyard of competitive imbalance and skyrocketing costs. In Relegation & Promotion: Saving Major League Baseball (From Itself), J.B. Manheim argues that the only way to restore the game is to dismantle its closed, static structure and embrace a bold, soccer-style system of accountability.

Drawing on extensive research, Manheim presents a five-year blueprint for transforming MLB into an open-league model where performance on the field dictates survival. By introducing a single, unified National League and a new Affiliated Baseball League, the proposal creates high-stakes Survival Series and Promotion Tournaments that offer the drama of March Madness while incentivizing owners to prioritize winning over tanking. And while relegation and promotion may seem foreign to American professional sports, Manheim points to current MLB owners and other U.S. sports investors already operating successfully within this model in the English Premier League and elsewhere. 

At its core, Manheim’s proposal seeks to reconcile owners’ need for return on investment with fans’ demand for a competitive, affordable, and compelling game. Relegation & Promotion offers a provocative, game-centered path forward for anyone who believes baseball is too important to remain stuck in its past.

REVIEWS:

“In his timely new book providing a unique path to promote baseball's growth, Jerry Manheim employs his expertise to deftly hurl a knuckleball at the game's established order. Through his in-depth understanding of the sport's history, applying a deep dive into data analysis, and respecting the needs of the owners, the players, and the fans alike, he has offered up a tempting alternative to the status quo, a pitch that requires thoughtful consideration.” —Jeffrey Orens, historian and author of Selling Baseball: How Superstars George Wright and Albert Spalding Impacted Sports in America

“Jerry Manheim's book, Relegation and Promotion, is a well-written, research-driven look at the problems facing Major League Baseball and what it needs to do to keep our national pastime a viable commodity. This is a must-read for anyone who loves the game and wants to understand the financial workings of MLB.” —Sam Zygner, author of Baseball Under the Palms and The Forgotten Marlins

“Once again, Jerry Manheim has produced a compelling read. He proposes an audacious, creative solution to the problems currently vexing MLB. Whether or not you agree with his plan, you will certainly be entertained along the way.” —Mike Haupert, Professor of Economics, University of Wisconsin–La Crosse

by J.B. Manheim
Page Count: 238
Trim Size: 6 x 9
Publish Date: November 10, 2026
Imprint: Sunbury Press
Genre: Baseball Business

SPORTS & RECREATION / Business Aspects
SPORTS & RECREATION / Baseball / General 
BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Industries / Entertainment