Minor Leaguers Accuse MLB of Not Playing Ball in Overtime Pay Lawsuit

San Francisco, CAIn perhaps the ultimate example of polarization, minor-league baseball players toil for a pittance while their counterparts in “The Show” earn millions, with teams and Major League Baseball (MLB) overall earning billions of dollars in revenue from gate receipts, concessions and broadcast contracts. In contrast, according to an unpaid overtime lawsuit, minor leaguers effectively make less than minimum wage. There are also no overtime benefits, which is an affront to overtime pay laws. This, according to a lawsuit recently filed. One of the plaintiffs is affiliated with the San Francisco Giants.

According to The San Francisco Chronicle (2/19/14), co-plaintiff Oliver Odle is a classic example of the allegations made in the lawsuit. Odle was drafted by the Giants in 2007. He was afforded a signing bonus of $2,500 before embarking on a five-year stint in the minors. At one point Odle was a starter for the Class A San Jose Giants in 2009 and 2010, going on to pitch briefly with Fresno in Triple-A before his ultimate release from the organization in 2011.

While their free-agent counterparts in Major League Baseball earn millions of dollars each year, minor leaguers start at $1,100 per month as a Class A rookie, eventually rising to the top-level scale of $2,150 per month for Triple A. Given that playing seasons last just three to five months, it represents an effective annual salary ranging from $3,000 to $7,500.

Plaintiffs also allege they train for weeks without pay, in violation of minimum wage and labor laws, including California overtime law.

Minor leaguers “powerless to combat the collusive power of the MLB cartel”

The lawsuit, which seeks class-action status, was filed February 7 in US District Court San Francisco. MLB, together with teams that comprise the league, “have exploited minor leaguers by paying salaries below minimum wage, by not paying overtime wages, and by often paying no wages, at all,” the lawsuit says. According to court documents, MLB executives and club owners “have preyed upon minor leaguers, who are powerless to combat the collusive power of the MLB cartel,” or so it is alleged.

The overtime pay lawsuit makes the point that since 1976, when major-league players won free-agent status, salaries in The Show have increased by more than 2,000 percent v. 75 percent for those of minor leaguers over the same 38-year time frame. Court papers note the latter comes in at one-fifth the rate of inflation. While signing bonuses average $2,500, the lawsuit claims that the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball imposed new limits - or caps - on those bonuses in 2012, further limiting the take-home pay of minor-league players.

According to the unpaid overtime lawsuit, games in the minor leagues are scheduled for six or seven days per week. While it remains a short season, players work at least 50 hours per week, or so it is alleged. The tally includes travel time and workouts, with no additional pay for spring training, off-season instructional leagues and year-round conditioning that teams require of their players.

There is no overtime pay.

The unpaid overtime lawsuit seeks class-action status on behalf of current and former minor leaguers numbering into the thousands, and dating back three years. The lawsuit seeks damages and civil penalties. Co-plaintiffs are Aaron Senne (lead plaintiff) and Michael Liberto. The lawsuit is Senne et al v. Office of the Commissioner of Baseball, et al, Case No. 3:2014cv00608, California Northern District Court, San Francisco Office.